8th November, 2023
The Chairman of the EFCC Ola Olukoyede has said the agency will no longer wind down businesses because of ongoing investigation as part of the bid to ensure that fight against graft will not be against the economic growth of the country.
“The era of winding down businesses by way of investigation is gone. We will look into the mix-fund rules that separate proceeds of crimes from legitimate money so as to allow businesses to grow,” Olukoyede said.
He therefore urged operatives of the Commission to premise the anti-corruption fights on initiatives and modalities that would promote the country’s economic growth and development.
Olukoyede said this while addressing his officers in Lagos Zonal Command, according to a statement by Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency on Tuesday in Abuja.
“There is need to redirect our focus towards what we were set up to do in Nigeria, which is to drive economic development. We will tilt our focus towards that area. We will work to drive economic development, create wealth and employment.
“The era of winding down businesses by way of investigation is gone. We will look into the mix-fund rules that separate proceeds of crimes from legitimate money so as to allow businesses to grow.”
He also stated that the Commission, in line with its mandate, would make conscious efforts to redeem the image of the country in the global community.
“We will drive this to tell the whole world that we are ready to get out of this mess. We will do our own and pressurize other stakeholders to do theirs,” he said.
He charged officers of the Commission to uphold the core values of the EFCC which include integrity, courage, professionalism and collaboration in the discharge of their duties.
He stressed that the anti-corruption drive must open up atmosphere of accountability and transparency in the country.
“You must be professional in all you do. Our image should reflect our core values. I have been part of this system. I was out for three years and I know the way things are,” he said.
He tasked officers of the Commission to be above board, insisting that asset declaration is compulsory for every staff.
“This was the reason I recently directed that all staff should declare their assets. I have declared mine, so you must declare yours too,” he said.(NAN)