The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, assumed office on Thursday, October 19,  2023, promising to reposition and refocus the anti-graft agency for optimal effectiveness.

Olukoyede, while speaking at a meeting with the management staff of the EFCC at the corporate headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja, listed his agenda to revolve around clearer and robust pursuit of the mandate of the EFCC, creating atmosphere for transparency and accountability in governance, emphasising preventive strategies in fighting corruption, total adherence to the rule of law, and better welfare packages for staff of the Commission.

He said: “We need to address the focus of our mandate. We should use the Commission to drive economic development.

“Why are we fighting crimes? It is for the system to thrive, for the economy to grow, for the society to get better.  Therefore, our focus should be geared towards developing the nation for greater benefits.”

On professionalism, the EFCC boss said: “We are going to drive professionalism in discharging our duties in line with the rule of law. The rule of law is going to be our guiding light.

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“We are going to drive EFCC to a place that when you see EFCC personnel, you will see a touch of professionalism. We are also going to be involved more in prevention because it is better to save money for the government than to spend money in prosecution.”

Olukoyede stressed the supremacy of the rule of law in the works of the EFCC, saying the anti-graft agency “is a creation of the law”.

“Its Act is a legal instrument. This means that all our activities should be in line with the rule of law. There is nothing we are going to do that will be at variance with the law,” he added.

Olukoyede further called on the EFCC officials to “eschew dichotomies, narrowness, and disloyalty to themselves, the EFCC, and the nation”, stressing that the anti-graft agency is legally equipped to be at the forefront of fighting all shades of economic and financial crimes.

The EFCC chairman, however, assured a level playing field, equal opportunities for career progression, and more rewarding welfare package, saying: “My priority is to enhance staff welfare. We will build on what we have done before and there are prospects that we will do better things for every staff of the Commission.”

In his handover speech, the former Acting EFCC Chairman, Abdulkareem Chukkol, appreciated the staff and management for their support during his time in office and congratulated Olukoyede on his “well-deserved appointment”.

Chukkol thanked President Bola Tinubu for trusting him with the leadership of the EFCC in the four months he held sway as an acting chairman, saying: “We are grateful to the president for picking one of us; someone who has invested time and intellect in building the Commission to lead us at this time. Being not new to the system, I have no doubt the Executive Chairman will do well.”

The Star