Rep-elect assures of new, improved fight against corruption

THE newly-elected House of Representatives member and former Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kayode Oladele, has given assurance that in co-operation with other in-coming legislators, Nigerians can be sure of improvement in the fight against corruption, especially through legislative action.

Oladele, who will be representing the Egbado (Yewa) North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency in the next National Assembly, told The Guardian in an interview that with his background in the anti-corruption sector, he is well aware of the challenges facing the anti-graft agencies, and will work to improve the situation as well as the performance of the agencies.

He said: “I think the major problems facing the EFCC are lack of political will and inadequate funding. As a member of the House of Representatives, I will certainly champion the need to further empower the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies.

I know their core challenges and we shall work hard to improve their performance. Happily, the President-elect has clearly and persistently identified corruption as one of the major focuses of his administration. With this expression of political will on his part, I am most certain that Nigerians will see a new and improved fight against corruption.”

He, however, sought to clarify a misconception, which he said, had continued to be a feature of the critique of the EFCC by some national and a few international actors in the anti-corruption struggles, saying: “It is sometimes assumed that the success of the EFCC should be located only in terms of the number of individuals serving jail terms. This is true and logical but it is assumed that the EFCC is the only agency that would determine the incarceration of corrupt individuals.