Chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has described public sector corruption as the greatest problem of the country with procurement and contract fraud accounting for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s corruption and fraud issues.
The anti-graft czar disclosed this in a meeting with a delegation of the management team of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) led by its newly-appointed Director General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, at the corporate headquarters of the EFCC.
“In the EFCC, we handle both private and public sector fraud. And when it comes to the public sector, which is one of our major problems in Nigeria, we discovered that contract and procurement fraud takes more than 90 per cent of the volume of public sector fraud. And if you look at it, they range from commingling, contract splitting and all forms of shenanigans all over the place.
“Infrastructure-wise and all other developmental problems are attributable to contract and procurement fraud.”
It lies with you and with me to make a change. If we can work together, we will be able to leave this country better than we met it,” he said. Olukoyede further harped on the need for enhanced collaboration between the EFCC and the BPP in many areas, especially in project implementation and monitoring.
Earlier in his remarks, Adedokun disclosed that the visit was to assure the EFCC and Nigerians that the bureau under his leadership was on a mission for a rebirth. “We are here to reassure you and your team that we are committed to making your job easier.
HOWEVER, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has alleged that the EFCC has a corruption problem. Inibehe stated that he is no longer an outspoken ally of the commission, noting that he used to defend the EFCC vigorously in the past.
In a post on his X handle yesterday, the human rights lawyer claimed that the war against corruption has taken a backseat, suggesting that the EFCC needs to change its modus operandi if it wants the public’s support.
According to him, the commission cannot raid the homes of innocent people at odd hours, break doors, harass and brutalise the occupants, and still expect public support.
“I used to defend the EFCC vigorously and was invited in the past to some of their events in Lagos, including their yearly anti-corruption march. “When a judge of the Akwa Ibom State High Court gave a terrible injunction barring the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and others from investigating government officials, past and present, I went all out to ensure that the illegal injunction was vacated.
“When Ibrahim Magu was being haunted, I filed a lawsuit on behalf of the HEDA Resource Centre at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge attempts to remove him.
“No one can say that I ever sought any kind of favour from the EFCC. Though I am still supportive of any attempt by the EFCC to fight corruption, I’m no longer an outspoken ally of the commission.
MEANWHILE, the EFCC has announced the postponement of a media chat earlier scheduled to be held by its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. The media engagement originally slated for 7:30 p.m. yesterday, January 19, 2025, was expected to be broadcasted across major television networks.
This announcement was made through the commission’s official X account, where the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, issued a statement confirming the development.
