Despite widespread complaints about corruption in Nigeria, many citizens still rally behind politicians accused of graft, a contradiction that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede finds troubling. He lamented that while Nigerians decry corruption, they often defend the very individuals facing prosecution.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday while receiving officials of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by Chris Olukolade, Olukoyede stressed that tackling corruption requires a united front.
“Everybody is crying that Nigerians are corrupt, that the system is corrupt, that corruption is killing us and destroying our system,” he said. “Yet, when we investigate high-profile cases and arraign individuals in court, the same people carry placards in support of those leaders. It doesn’t show that we are serious about this fight. The fight is supposed to be a collaborative effort.”
He emphasized the need for public engagement, noting that no single agency can combat corruption alone. “The society has a role to play; policy has a role to play, and the welfare of citizens also has a role to play,” he added.
Olukoyede defended his leadership approach, stating that his administration prioritizes prevention over enforcement. He introduced a new directorate—Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC)—to focus on blocking financial leakages rather than merely reacting after funds have been stolen.
“We are now emphasizing prevention, which is a critical aspect of our mandate. We don’t have to wait for money to be stolen before we act. We have access to GIFMIS (the government’s payment platform) to track and ensure that every released fund is properly utilized and that capital projects are executed,” he explained.
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Despite this shift, he assured that the EFCC remains committed to enforcement, vowing to scale up efforts in tackling financial crimes. “We are not abandoning enforcement. In fact, we are strengthening it. But we believe prevention is crucial because it costs less than reacting after the damage has been done,” he concluded.
Olukoyede’s remarks come amid criticism that under his leadership, the EFCC has adopted a softer stance toward politicians while intensifying crackdowns on civilians, particularly alleged internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as ‘Yahoo boys.‘ The agency has also faced scrutiny over its handling of recovered assets, with concerns about transparency and accountability in their management.
