By Milcah Tanimu
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), emphasized that the agency’s anti-corruption initiatives are focused on accountability rather than targeting individuals. Addressing representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Monday, Olukoyede highlighted the collective responsibility in combating corruption.
“It is a collective responsibility to fight corruption in Nigeria. EFCC will not relent. Whatever it is going to cost us to fight this fight, we’ll fight it,” he said.
He clarified that the agency’s actions are not personal but are aimed at ensuring public officials are accountable for their tenure.
“If you have spent eight years, four years, or one year in office, by the time you come out as a public officer, the position you held was a position of trust. So when you finish, come. We want you to explain how you spent our common wealth while you were in office. So there is nothing personal and we are not after any individual. We are just pursuing our mandate,” Olukoyede stated.
Additionally, Olukoyede urged students to avoid engaging in internet fraud, commonly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo,’ highlighting the negative impact of cybercrime on Nigeria’s reputation.
“It is important to understand the menace that this cybercrime is causing in Nigeria,” he said, recounting a recent experience in South Asia where his Nigerian credit card was scrutinized due to the country’s association with cyber fraud.
“She [the hotel clerk] knew who I was as the chairman of an anti-corruption agency in Nigeria. These are the issues we face. This is the kind of shame we are exposed to,” he explained.
He also encouraged students to utilize the student loan policy, assuring them that the EFCC will oversee the proper management of these funds.
“The essence of that is that you don’t have to do Yahoo Yahoo for you to be able to pay your school fees. I’m going to invite the DG of that project to come to my office. We will sit down and ensure that the money allocated to that project goes to the right people and that they don’t destroy that project,” Olukoyede concluded.