The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has emphasized that the fight against corruption in Nigeria requires more than lip service, emotional outbursts, or mere mob campaigns.
Speaking through Dr. Benedict Ubi, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Zonal Directorate in Kaduna, on the occasion of the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day, Olukoyede stressed the need for commitment, passion, consistency, and credible intelligence.
“There is need for commitment, passion, consistency, and credibility of intelligence. Every whistle blown must point towards truth and evidential proofs. There is punishment for false claims and misleading intelligence,” he warned.
Olukoyede highlighted that corruption, alongside terrorism, ranks as one of the deadliest afflictions of humanity globally, and emphasized the collective effort required to combat it.
“In view of the danger and threat to our existence which corruption represents, it is imperative that individuals, communities, corporate bodies, and, indeed, the whole world join hands to tackle it frontally,” he said.
One key method to address corruption, according to the EFCC chairman, is through the whistle-blowing initiative. Launched on December 21, 2016, by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance, this policy encourages people to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, abuse or embezzlement of government assets, and any other form of corruption or theft.
“Whistleblowers are anti-corruption promoters. Through their efforts, anti-corruption agencies are alerted about environmental compromises that should be investigated. The alert can come through verbal and non-verbal corridors,” Olukoyede noted.
He urged the public to utilize the EFCC’s Eagle Eye app, an established corruption reporting device that generates actionable intelligence.
“I urge whistleblowers to key into this device. Mails can be sent, telephone calls can be made, and personal visits can be made to any EFCC command across the country to expose acts of shadiness around us. We also assure every whistleblower of protection. EFCC will never betray you,” Olukoyede assured.
