By Anamati Inyang
22 November 2025
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged hotel owners and business operators across the country to strengthen their collaboration with the Commission in the ongoing fight against economic and financial crimes.
Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Director of the Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander of the EFCC (DCE) Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, made the call on Thursday, November 20, 2025, during a courtesy visit by the Executives of the Businesses and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum, Edo State.
He reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to combating fraud in all sectors of the economy and highlighted the professionalism and discipline guiding the Commission’s operations.
“The Commission is determined to ensure that businesses operate in a fraud-free environment that supports growth and protects owners. We uphold our core values of integrity, professionalism, courage and collaboration in the discharge of our duties. Our officers work strictly within the EFCC Establishment Act 2004, which empowers us to coordinate anti-money laundering laws, Advance Fee Fraud statutes and other related offences,” he stated.
Olukoyede assured the hoteliers that the EFCC remains open to engagement and cooperation, while stressing the need for operators to uphold due diligence, especially through proper Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures.
“It is expected that when you notice something inconsistent with established rules and regulations, you alert us. As parents and responsible citizens, if a boy who should be in school lodges in your hotel for three weeks, it signals a problem, and we expect that you report such situations,” he added.
Responding, the Chairman of the Forum, Omogiade Edokpolor, expressed the group’s readiness to partner with the EFCC. He stated that the Forum supports the Commission’s statutory mandate and commended its reputation for professionalism and integrity.
Edokpolor emphasized that the collaboration aims to strengthen compliance and protect businesses from inadvertently enabling criminal activities.
RismadarVoice Media will continue to monitor developments in the EFCC’s engagements with stakeholders across the country.
