The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has firmly rejected claims of lacking integrity and transparency leveled against its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, by columnist Steve Osuji.
In a statement released by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the commission described the allegations as “worrisome and unjustifiable,” condemning the personal attacks on Olukoyede as baseless.
“More concerning is the unfounded attack on Olukoyede without any just cause. Allegations of a lack of transparency, accountability, and integrity are wild and clearly inaccurate,” Oyewale stated.
He challenged the foundation of the accusations and highlighted Olukoyede’s impactful leadership since assuming office.
“The question remains: in what way has Olukoyede fallen short? Is it by insisting that the right course of action be followed? By driving the nation’s anti-corruption efforts forward with unprecedented vigor?
By introducing preventive frameworks that have yielded significant results?
By recovering globally recognized assets, including the 753 duplexes and other apartments acquired through fraudulent means?
By positioning the EFCC among the world’s leading anti-corruption agencies? By handling 50,000 case files within a single year?
By implementing bold internal reforms and other initiatives to strengthen the anti-corruption fight?
It is cowardly and unfair for any columnist to use vague accusations to tarnish the reputation of Olukoyede, who stands as one of the most distinguished anti-graft leaders globally,” Oyewale added.
The statement also reaffirmed that the EFCC has consistently submitted its annual reports to the National Assembly as mandated by law.
Claims of asset re-looting by EFCC officers were described as “equally preposterous.” The commission clarified that it does not directly recover monetary assets; non-monetary assets recovered are disposed of following court directives, with proceeds deposited into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account at the Central Bank, in line with the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
“The EFCC operates transparently. All its activities, including public asset auctions, are communicated openly to the public. To portray the Commission as engaged in fraudulent or criminal activities is both malicious and baseless,” the statement concluded.
