What Olukayode’s first Press Statement as EFCC Boss means

Ola Olukayode, recently appointed as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria, has wasted no time in outlining his vision for the agency.

After his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate and a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Olukoyede issued his first press release as the head of the anti-graft commission.

Olukayode’s appointment as the substantive EFCC chairman was confirmed by the Senate, along with the appointment of Hammajoda as the secretary of the commission.

Following this confirmation, Olukayode promptly assumed office in Abuja.

In his inaugural press release, Olukayode emphasized his administration’s clear-cut agenda, focused on repositioning and re-focusing the EFCC for maximum effectiveness.

He articulated a commitment to upholding the rule of law as a guiding principle for the organization.

The statement, released by the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, conveyed Olukayode’s determination to ensure professionalism in the discharge of EFCC’s responsibilities, all while adhering to the principles of the rule of law.

Olukayode stated,

“The rule of law is going to be our guiding light. We are going to drive EFCC to a place where when you see EFCC personnel, you will see a touch of professionalism.

“We are also going to be involved more in prevention because it is better to save money for the government than to spend money on prosecution.”

This statement signals Olukayode’s commitment to ensuring the EFCC’s role in combating financial crimes aligns with legal principles and best practices.

It also underscores his focus on proactive measures to prevent financial improprieties, ultimately saving government resources and promoting responsible financial management.

Excerpt of the EFCC Boss statement:

“We need to address the focus of our mandate. We should use the Commission to drive economic development. Why are we fighting crimes?

“It is for the system to thrive, for the economy to grow, and for the society to get better. Therefore, our focus should be geared towards developing the nation for greater benefits.

“We are going to drive professionalism in discharging our duties in line with the rule of law. The rule of law is going to be our guiding light.

“We are going to drive EFCC to a place where when you see EFCC personnel, you will see a touch of professionalism.

“We are also going to be involved more in prevention because it is better to save money for the government than to spend money on prosecution.”

“This means that all our activities should be in line with the rule of law. There is nothing we are going to do that will be at variance with the law,”

“My priority is to enhance staff welfare. We will build on what we have done before, and there are prospects that we will do better things for every staff of the Commission”.