The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has said that the anti-graft agency recovered over N365.4 billion and secured the conviction of no fewer than 4,111 criminal elements in 2024.
Olukoyede made the disclosure in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, at the end of a three-day retreat for Directors of the anti-graft agency.
The retreat had the theme: “EFCC: The Journey So Far: Ensuring Professionalism and Integrity.”
Olukoyede attributed the feats to commitment, sacrifice, and dedication of staff, even as he promised to surpass the record at the end of this fiscal year 2025.
“In 2024, the Commission secured 4,111 convictions and hauled monetary recovery of over N365.4 billion,” he said.
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He appreciated the sacrifice, hard work, discipline, and commitment of the agency’s operatives, and called for “increased dedication to surpass the records of 2024, and greater commitment to the integrity of the processes in the agency”.
The EFCC boss, therefore, harped on the need for upholding professionalism and integrity in the fight against corruption, assuring that the Commission’s workforce have been turned to become a critical mass of honest, highly motivated and effective team.
He assured that in another six months, he would deliver a brand new EFCC to Nigeria.
One of the resource persons, Professor Tonnie Iredia, while speaking on the topic: “Role of Personnel in Information Management and Public Perception of the EFCC,” explained that the wrong perception on the works of the agency arises from deliberate distortion and outright cynicism about the strides and courageous works of the commission.
Iredia applauded Olukoyede for his passion, integrity, and transparent leadership at the commission, and called for more involvement of Nigerians in the corruption fight.
Also speaking, Femi Falana (SAN) went down the memory lane about the evolution of the EFCC and affirmed that “the Commission has come to stay”.
He commended Olukoyede and the staff of the commission for being undaunted, resolute and progressive in moving the anti-graft war forward, promising that challenges being posed by the judiciary would be looked into in order to ensure that the commission fully delivers on its mandate of tackling corrupt practices across the country.