No Hiding Place For The Corrupt, Olukoyede Declares As Tinubu Gets Tough With Anti-Corruption Fight
Bola Tinubu has the political will to tackle economic crimes and other acts of greed and graft and no one caught in such sleezes will be spared of prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede made the pledge in Abuja when Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman Musa Aliyu visited him at work.
His declaration came on the heels of the interrogation by the EFCC of suspended federal officials Halima Shehu and Betta Edu and former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq over alleged mismanagement of public funds.
A statement issued by EFCC Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale quoted Olukoyede as saying Tinubu fully backs the renewed anti-corruption fight.
“President Tinubu is offering the right atmosphere for anti-graft activities, both for the EFCC and ICPC and no Nigerian is immune to investigation for any corruption allegation,” Olukoyede clarified.
”We believe that with the kind of President we have, who is ready and willing to do the right thing and from what we have seen in recent times and in the last 48 hours, it is clear that he has provided leadership and created the atmosphere for us to work.
“So there is no hiding place for the corrupt. We must give our best, we must be committed and give the President the right support he needs.
“Nobody is too big to be investigated in this country. Once you are not playing according to the rules, we will investigate you.”
Olukoyede said the engagement with the ICPC sends the right signals to the entire country that the anti-corruption agencies are coming together and extending hands of comradeship and fellowship to each other to work together, per The Nation.
He cited a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both agencies.
“Today, the MoU is in place. It is going to be a living document that we can review from time to time to accommodate mutual interest.”
But he stressed the enormity of cases both agencies handle requires they have more resources.
“Even with five anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, we can hardly do more than scratch the surface.
“One anti-corruption agency in the United States has a staff strength of 35,000. I am not sure the staff strength of the EFCC and the ICPC put together will be up to seven thousand.
“Though people have been talking of duplication of responsibilities between the EFCC and ICPC, I don’t see it from that perspective. I see it from the perspective of the enormity of the work on our hands.
“When you are limited by staff strength and resources and there is still so much to be done, it becomes important to work together and see if we can move the country forward.”
Need for inter-agency cooperation
Olukoyede said he reminded the Senate during his confirmation hearing of the need for collaboration among the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
“We all have roles to play, especially as the major cankerworm hindering our economic and national development is corruption.”
In his response, Aliyu advocated for more understanding and synergy between the ICPC and the EFCC.
“It is very important for us to work together. And we cannot work together without having a good relationship,” he stressed.
“That’s why I decided to extend hands of friendship to the EFCC so that we can see how we can work closely in helping this country to fight corruption
“I am aware that there is an MoU between the ICPC and the EFCC. ICPC is very much ready to collaborate and partner with the EFCC.
“We thank God that there is a good working relationship and I hope that we are going to sustain this relationship.
“I also hope we will be meeting on a regular basis to review what we are doing together to see how we can strengthen our relationship. May God help us in the discharge of these onerous tasks.”
