• Vice President lauds agency’s anti-money laundering efforts
• Reaffirms FG’s commitment to strengthening anti-corruption institutions
• Ekiti has zero tolerance for corruption, says Oyebanji

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has said that tough times await criminals and fraudsters in Ekiti and Ondo states.

He, however, allayed the fear of residents of the two states, saying that the agency is closer to the people in the zone.

Olukoyede spoke yesterday, during the official commissioning of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate’s Office Complex of the Commission in Ado-Ekiti by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

The EFCC Chairman said the Commission was pursuing a new anti-corruption strategy focused on preventing the diversion of public resources before crimes occur.

He said that the Commission had established a directorate dedicated to fraud-risk assessment and prevention, working closely with federal and state institutions to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen governance systems.

The EFCC chairman said the initiative had already produced positive results in some states by helping governments block leakages and improve revenue generation.

Olukoyede, who emphasised that the Commission’s presence in Ekiti should not be viewed as a threat but as an opportunity for collaboration, also disclosed that proceeds recovered from criminal activities had been used to support key government programmes, including the Student Loan Scheme, Consumer Credit Scheme and educational development initiatives.

Shettima commended the EFCC for playing a key role in Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, saying that the agency’s anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts have strengthened investors’ confidence and supported the country’s economic reforms.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening anti-corruption institutions through improved infrastructure, welfare, training and others.

According to the Vice President, the EFCC has become a critical institution in both Nigeria’s economy and national security framework through its efforts to combat corruption, financial crimes, cybercrime and illicit financial flows.

“The commission’s efforts have also supported Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list and strengthened confidence in our economic reforms, thereby improving the country’s investment outlook,” Shettima said.

The Vice President noted that corruption remains one of the greatest threats to public trust, national development and economic growth, stressing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the anti-corruption campaign a vital component of its governance agenda.

The Vice President, while commending the leadership and personnel of the EFCC for what he described as their aggressive pursuit of the anti-corruption war, said the fight against corruption must be sustained through strong institutions, effective tools and dedicated personnel.

He assured the Commission of continued government support, emphasising that investing in the capacity and welfare of anti-corruption agencies is a national imperative.

Shettima, who also highlighted some of the Commission’s recent achievements, including its role in combating cybercrime, noted that the EFCC secured the conviction of 192 cybercrime offenders in a single operation, underscoring the agency’s growing importance in protecting the country’s financial system.

He said that funds recovered through the Commission’s asset recovery programme had been deployed to support critical social intervention initiatives, including the Federal Government’s student loan scheme and other development programmes.

According to him, the agency’s success in securing convictions in several high-profile corruption cases demonstrates that corruption and financial misconduct will not be tolerated in Nigeria.

He, therefore, urged the Commission to intensify efforts to prevent money laundering and illicit financial flows, warning that criminal networks often rely on illegal financial channels to finance insecurity and other unlawful activities.

Earlier, Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji described the commissioning of the new EFCC office as a significant milestone that would improve access to justice and strengthen anti-corruption enforcement in Ekiti and Ondo states.

The governor said the state government supported the project by providing infrastructure and a 220KVA standby generator to ensure uninterrupted operations.

According to him, the absence of a zonal office in the area had previously subjected victims of financial crimes, suspects, witnesses and investigators to long and costly journeys before they could access the Commission’s services.

He, therefore, expressed confidence that the presence of the EFCC in Ado-Ekiti would improve operational efficiency and serve as a deterrent to economic criminals operating within the region.

The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring the Commission of continued cooperation.