There is now sacred cow and no hidden place for ‘mega thieves’ in the anti-corruption war, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede said yesterday.
He said the war against graft will continue to be “broad-based, holistic and unsparing of anyone linked with any form of economic and financial crimes.”
The anti-graft agency boss said contrary to insinuations that the agency had focused only on internet fraudsters, it had in the last two months, re-arraigned some ex-governors for alleged corruption while in office.
Olukoyede made the declaration in Abuja at an Anti-corruption Concert organized to create awareness and drive public involvement in the fight against internet crimes.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, quoted the EFCC chairman as reaffirming his commitment to an all-embracing, fully-integrated war against corrupt practices.
Olukoyede said: “We will not spare anyone. We will not spare the mega thieves.
“As we are doing the mega, we will also do those at the lower end. In the last two months, we have arraigned two former governors. So, it is not true that we are only focused on internet fraudsters.
“Of course, internet fraud is bad enough but our focus is on every form of economic and financial crimes.”
He warned youths against indulgence in internet-related offences because of the grave consequences of being convicted for such crimes.
The EFCC boss said: “Youths need to know that being ex-convicts has career limitations. Ex-convicts can’t run for public offices, the stigma alone is even terrible.
“So, I urge you to avoid internet crimes by all means. Your future is more important than any immediate gains from such crimes.”
He reiterated that the EFCC under his watch remained deeply committed to giving youths a glorious and sustainable future.
Olukoyede spoke of plans to establish “a Cyber Crime Research Centre is in the New Academy of the EFCC.”
He said: “The Centre will involve youths in in-depth research about the issue of cyber crime. Their energies will be deployed towards profitable engagements”.
Urging youths to embrace hard work and diligence, Olukoyede said: “The path of success is the path of hard work and dignity. There is dignity in labour.
“Let’s come together. All of us must come together and agree that corruption is evil. Don’t’ leave the fight to EFCC alone.”
Minister of State for Youth Development Ayodele Olawande enjoined youths to support the EFCC in its crusade against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
He said: “Nigeria is supposed to have progressed more than this. We will not allow corrupt people to destroy our future.
“That’s why we need to come together and fight this evil in our society; that’s why we need to continuously run this campaign because I am convinced that everyone has a part to play. Without you, there is little or nothing EFCC can do.
“Let’s show the world that Nigeria young people are determined to change the narrative.”
