By Our Reporter
Under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than N200 billion and secured approximately 3,000 convictions in just one year. Olukoyede was appointed as chairman of the agency by President Bola Tinubu in October 2023.
EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren highlighted the commission’s achievements in combating corruption during an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief.
“In terms of recoveries and convictions, which attract significant media attention, Olukoyede has made considerable progress in just one year,” Uwujaren stated. “We’ve recovered over N200 billion under his administration, not to mention substantial amounts in dollars and euros. In terms of convictions, we’ve recorded over 3,000, which is noteworthy.”
Despite these accomplishments, Uwujaren emphasized that the EFCC’s primary focus is on crime prevention rather than solely on the number of convictions. He noted that a significant portion of these convictions—around 70%—involved cybercrime, predominantly among young people.
“We’re not focusing on conviction statistics alone because our main goal is to prevent corruption,” he explained. “The majority of these convictions are related to cybercrime cases.”
Uwujaren stressed that the current leadership prioritizes preventive measures, including educating youth about the risks of fraud, particularly cybercrime.
He also pointed out that corruption in the public sector, particularly concerning contract and procurement processes, remains a critical issue. “Corruption in public sector procurement is a major concern, and the commission is committed to addressing these practices before they occur,” he added.
“The saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ holds true. By preventing procurement fraud, we can save significant resources for the country.”