RismadarVoice Reporters, May 1, 2026
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to combat the menace of corruption and economic and financial crimes in the country, noting that “We believe that through collaboration and concerted efforts the fight against corruption can be won”.
The Chairman stated this on Wednesday April 28, 2026, during a sensitisation campaign/town hall meeting on the ills of corruption held at the Auditorium of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin City.
Olukoyede who spoke through the Ag Zonal Director, Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, disclosed that the programme was organised in line with the strategic objective of the Commission to enlighten and engage the public on economic and financial crimes.
“We organised this event to bring together stakeholders in the fight against corruption to learn from our resource persons some of the new trends in cybercrime, investment fraud, compliance with money laundering regulations and the great strides recorded by the EFC over the years. We believe that as stakeholders in the fight against corruption, there is a need for you to know the latest developments in the anti-corruption fight”, he said.
The EFCC’s boss lamented that despite valuable opportunities in cyberspace, some young people have chosen to use the space for criminality and fraud. “It is pervasive and is a stain on us as a people and as a nation. Some youths have embraced cybercrime to the detriment of their future and the image of the nation.” He charged young persons to look inward and be intentional in their decisions by shunning acts of criminality and embracing hard work while emphasising that there is no shortcut to wealth.
He urged the participants at the event which included members of the National Youth Service Corps, Civil Society Organisations, Compliance officers of Banks, officers from the National Orientation Agency, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Accountants, Automobile Dealers amongst others to become EFCC foot soldiers by spreading the Commission anti corruption message. “It is our firm belief that after this event, your capacity to engage and propagate our message would have been enhanced.”
In his paper, (Naira Abuse and Cybercrime), Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE Idrisu Eddie Edegbo listed new trends in cybercrime to include Artificial Intelligence Fraud, Cryptocurrency fraud, Fake Application and Social Media Account Hacking. “Face of fraud keeps changing as technology advances. It is important we advance our knowledge so we are not caught unawares’, he said. He warned young people against peer pressure and to be real. “Don’t be pressured. Many of the things you see on social media that put pressure on you are not real. Avoid it and stay focused,” he stated.
Speaking on the topic: “EFC from the Beginning, Successes and Challenges” Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Williams Oseghale stated that the EFCC since it began operation on April 13, 2003 have recorded tremendous achievements securing convictions across all sectors- bank fraud, property fraud,
advance fee fraud, economic governance amongst others. Notably, he stated, the conviction and subsequent deportation of 193 foreigners who were arrested for cybercrime in Lagos remains a milestone. He further noted that the Commission also secured the conviction of politically exposed persons including past governors, local government chairmen, top civil servants and public officers amongst several others while monies and property worth billions of naira have also been recovered.
“The EFCC continues to raise the bar in the fight against corruption through convictions and asset recovery. In a single operation, the Commission made the largest single recovery of 753 duplexes in Abuja.”
