By Ayodele Oni
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, commissioned the new Ekiti-Ondo Zonal Directorate Office Complex of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ado-Ekiti, declaring that no nation can rise above the integrity of its public institutions.
Represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, the president said the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening anti-corruption agencies with the resources, independence and conducive environment needed to combat economic and financial crimes effectively.
The President noted that corruption undermines development and weakens public trust in government institutions.
According to him, the EFCC was established to safeguard the nation’s economy from criminal activities and ensure accountability in public service.
He described the commissioning of the new office as a significant milestone for the Commission and commended EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for sustaining the fight against corruption through focused and organized efforts.
Tinubu highlighted some of the Commission’s recent achievements, including the dismantling of a foreign-controlled cryptocurrency fraud syndicate in Lagos, which led to the conviction of 192 foreigners.
He also cited the successful prosecution of several high-profile corruption cases and noted that recovered assets have been deployed to support government programmes such as the Students’ Loan Scheme, the Consumer Credit Scheme and the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.
Speaking at the event, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, stated that the establishment of the zonal office would address enforcement gaps in Ekiti and Ondo States, which were previously supervised from distant locations.
He assured residents that the Commission’s presence was aimed at protecting law-abiding citizens and warned that fraudsters, cybercriminals and illegal miners would no longer find safe haven in the region.
Olukoyede also referenced landmark convictions secured by the Commission, including the sentencing of a former Managing Director of NEXIM Bank to 490 years imprisonment and the conviction of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who was jailed for 75 years over a N22 billion fraud case.
He emphasized that the EFCC would continue to pursue justice without fear or favour while seeking the cooperation of the public in its operations.
Stakeholders at the ceremony expressed support for the Commission’s expanded presence in the zone.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, thanked President Tinubu for approving the siting of the office in the state, describing it as a boost to the fight against economic crimes.
The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adu Adejimi, urged residents to report suspicious activities, while Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting the EFCC in its mandate.
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