- The commission defended Olukoyede’s leadership and questioned the foundation of the accusations, emphasizing that the EFCC has continued to submit its annual reports to the National Assembly in accordance with legal requirements.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has firmly refuted claims made by columnist Steve Osuji accusing its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, of lacking integrity and transparency.
In a statement released by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the commission labeled the allegations as “unfounded and troubling,” particularly condemning the personal criticisms aimed at Olukoyede.
The commission defended Olukoyede’s leadership and questioned the foundation of the accusations, emphasizing that the EFCC has continued to submit its annual reports to the National Assembly in accordance with legal requirements.
“More worrisome was his attack on Olukoyede for no justifiable reason. Allegations of lack of transparency, accountability and integrity deficit are wild and clearly off the mark,” Oyewale said.
“The question is: in what way has Olukoyede fallen short? Is it by insisting that the right things should always be done? By moving the nation’s anti-graft war forward radically and unprecedentedly?
“By bringing forth a preventive framework to tackle corruption and reaping bountiful gains for the nation?
“By recovering the globally-acclaimed 753 duplexes and other apartments, which are proceeds of fraudulent dealings for the nation?
“By launching the EFCC into a global map of accomplished anti-graft agencies? By handling 50,000 case files in one year?
“By embarking on a courageous internal cleansing system and other progressive initiatives to deepen and strengthen the anti-corruption fight?
Olukoyede, through the statement, reaffirmed that the EFCC has consistently submitted its annual reports to the National Assembly as required by law.
“It is cowardly and uncharitable for any columnist to hide under vague and opaque cover to splash mud on Ola Olukoyede, arguably one of the finest breed of anti-graft czars around the world.”
“Equally preposterous are claims of re-looting of assets by officers of the Commission. For the purpose of clarification, the Commission does not recover monetary assets into its covers and the non-monetary assets that are recovered are disposed of following clear pronouncements by court and proceeds paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account account in the Central Bank in line with provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
“The EFCC does not operate in secrecy. All its operations are regularly communicated to the public, including public auction of assets. To deliberately cast the Commission in the mould of fraudulent engagements or criminality is not only mischievous but also untenable,” the statement concluded.
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