Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has advocated for increased collaboration among agencies, organizations, and the global community to combat economic and financial crimes and address corruption.
His remarks came during a one-day seminar commemorating the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day, held in Abuja on December 8, 2023.
Olukoyede, speaking through the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol, emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts in the fight against corruption.
He highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of corruption and the intricate tactics of anti-social elements to defraud and protect ill-gotten gains, underscoring the compelling need for joint efforts.
Addressing the seminar-themed “Uniting the World against Corruption,” Olukoyede stressed its relevance, notably as it marked twenty years since the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2003.
He characterized corruption as an existential threat, emphasizing the imperative for global unity in combating it.
Asserting that corruption demands a united front, Olukoyede urged for the continuous enhancement of global anti-corruption instruments to counter the sophisticated methods employed by trans-border criminal syndicates.
He called for intelligence sharing, capacity building, collaborative field operations, and practical mutual legal assistance among nations as pivotal strategies in the fight against corruption.
Expressing the EFCC’s unwavering commitment, Olukoyede vowed to intensify efforts, affirming that the Commission would relentlessly combat corruption without compromise.
On his part, Victoria Ojogbane, representing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, highlighted the significance of December 9 as a day dedicated globally to raising awareness about corruption’s detrimental impact and reiterating commitments to combat it.
Also speaking, Orji Ogonnaya Orji, Director General of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiatives (NEITI), echoed the call for renewed dedication from all stakeholders.
He stressed the importance of global partnerships, information sharing, human capital development, and inter-agency cooperation in adopting new approaches to combat corruption.
Jason Smith, a representative of the United States, affirmed the country’s commitment to collaborate with Nigeria and international partners in reinforcing anti-corruption efforts.
Additionally, secondary school students engaged in a debate as part of the Anti-Corruption Day commemoration, with students from Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS Dutse Abuja, emerging as the overall winners.
