The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  Mr.  Ola Olukoyede has commended the media and Civil Society Organizations, CSOs,  in the country for their unwavering commitment to the fight against economic and financial crimes, especially internet fraud in Southwest.

He gave the commendation on Friday, October 17, 2025 at a one-day workshop held in Ibadan Zonal Directorate for Journalists and Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, organized by the Commission.

Olukoyede who was represented by the Acting Zonal Director, Ibadan Directorate of the EFCC, ACE 1 Hauwa Garba Ringim applauded the CSOs and the media “for their invaluable contributions to the anti-corruption crusade”.

In his opening remarks, he stated that through the continuous advocacy campaign, reportage and public enlightenment efforts of the CSOs and the media, Nigerians are now better informed about the Commission’s anti-corruption activities as he called for more collective responsibility in safeguarding the nation’s resources through unbiased and timely reportage of Commission’s activities.

“This interactive session is designed not only  to share ideas and perspectives but to encourage constructive feedbacks and objective analyses that can further enhance the EFCC’s performance and accountability”, he said.

He further stated that “the EFCC recognizes CSOs and the media as indispensable allies in the fight against corruption” noting that, “the partnership among the CSOs, media and the EFCC has yielded meaningful results over the years and the EFCC remain committed in sustaining and expanding the collaboration through continuous engagements, transparency, and strengthening of institutional mechanisms to curb economic and financial crimes.

“On the EFCC’s part, we are committed to providing accurate and timely information to facilitate informed public engagement and oversight. Enhanced access to credible information on the management of public resources will not only promote good governance but also move us closer to our shared vision of a corruption- free society”.

Delivering a paper titled “Prosecuting Financial Crimes: Issues. Challenges and the Way Forward,” the Head of Legal and Prosecution Department, Ibadan Directorate, DCE Gift Iwebafa Odibo expressed concern over the “persistent security threats and risks faced by the EFCC prosecutors during out-of- jurisdiction prosecutions, especially when handling high-profile or political exposed persons.” She called for stiffer penalties for internet fraudsters to enhance deterrence order than community service.

Speaking in the same spirit, the Head of Media and Publicity and the Spokesperson of the EFCC, Deputy Commander of EFCC, DCE Dele Oyewale called for more collaborative efforts and periodical engagement from the CSOs and the media in spreading the anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots across the country.

“The pivotal roles played by the Civil Society Organizations and the media so far towards the remarkable achievements of the Commission cannot be over emphasized and this is seen as a beacon of patriotism but we have to do more. There must be a deliberate and holistic approach in amplifying the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.

“The EFCC under the current leadership of Ola Olukoyede, in 2024 alone arraigned five ex-governors and five ex-ministers  with no let or hindrance.  This is a display of political will by the Bola Tinubu’s administration to prosecute corruption cases to curb economic sabotage and infractions”, he said.

Oyewale assured the participants of the EFCC’s continuous willingness to deepen the synergy, adding that, the EFCC runs an open-door policy as regards information sharing, robust collaborative engagements and constructive criticism.

In his presentation titled, “Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and Other Emerging Financial Crimes”, CSE Alex Ogbole, Head of Digital Forensics, Lagos stated that investment and business scams are more prevalent among cryptocurrency fraud, he therefore tasked the participants to help the EFCC inform Nigerians to flee from get-rich-quick businesses and investments that could make them part with their hard- earned financial resources.

 Head of Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Aisha Mohammed disclosed that the EFCC is currently working on a massive campaign against children’s involvement in cybercrime.

“We have seen several cases when minors would be arrested during sting operations for internet fraud. This is worrisome and if this should continue, I can tell you for free that every household will have a ‘yahoo’ ex-convict in the nearest future. I want to urge all parents to look after their children and know the friends they keep to avoid negative influence on them”, she said.

Mohammed appreciated the participants for the turnout and encouraged them to further spread the message of the EFCC’s anti-corruption crusade to nooks and crannies of our society.

The workshop provided opportunities for the participants to raise constructive observations, comments and suggest solutions on the EFCC can better collaborate with stakeholders so that Nigerians would be more enlightened about the importance of taking the ownership of the fight against corruption.

Dele Oyewale

Head,  Media & Publicity

October 18, 2025