Corruption Must Be Fought Together, Says EFCC Chairman

Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), drew an analogy between corruption and cancer, urging Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the South East to collaborate with the Commission in disseminating anti-corruption messages at the grassroots level.

The call came during an interactive session at the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, held immediately after the commissioning of the new Command structure.

The EFCC made this known in a statement released via X on Thursday.

Addressing CSOs, Olukoyede, represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Muhammad Hammajoda, said, “The EFCC cannot achieve its mandate of ridding the country of economic and financial crimes alone and we need you the CSOs who are our major stakeholders to put in your energy, time and other resources to support us in this fight against corruption.”

Highlighting corruption as a malignant force, the Chairman stressed the need for collective efforts to combat it effectively.

“We have to do this work together. The menace is just like cancer, and we should fight it with all our strength. You are our eyes and ears in the public, you are our whistle-blowers. Help us spread the anti-corruption message to the grassroots so that we can effectively fight corruption and emerge victorious,” he asserted.

In response, Chief C.N.N Nwagbara, Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Enugu chapter, lauded Olukoyede for acknowledging the pivotal roles of CSOs in the anti-corruption battle. He pledged the Association’s full support to the Commission’s mandate.

“Please, we have to do this work together. The menace is just like cancer and we should fight it with all our strength. You are our eyes and ears in the public, you are our whistle-blowers. Help us spread the anti-corruption message to the grassroots so that we can effectively fight corruption and win together,” he said.

Another participant, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismark Oji, raised concerns about challenges in obtaining Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) certificates. Olukoyede assured that applicants facing difficulties in the digital application process should visit SCUML offices across the Commands for proper guidance.

Enugu Zonal Commander, ACE I Aliyu Nuhu Naibi, further clarified that adherence to the form-filling procedures would eliminate any difficulties.

He disclosed that their Command had over four hundred uncollected SCUML certificates and emphasized the importance of meticulous adherence to the application procedures.