The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made significant strides in its fight against economic and financial crimes, receiving 49,673 petitions and securing 10,872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed these figures during the inauguration of the EFCC's new Zonal Directorate in Awka, Anambra State Capital. The commission investigated 39,615 cases and filed 14,476 cases in court during the period.
The establishment of the Awka Zonal Directorate is part of the EFCC's ongoing reforms and expansion aimed at bringing its operations closer to Nigerians and strengthening its capacity to tackle financial crimes. Olukoyede said the commission is increasingly adopting a preventive approach to financial crimes, rather than waiting until public resources have been diverted before taking action. This approach involves expanding collaboration with government institutions to identify areas vulnerable to fraud and strengthen controls to prevent financial crimes.
The EFCC Chairman stated that the commission will work with state governments in areas including internally generated revenue, land administration, and other activities considered vulnerable to fraud. He urged Nigerians to develop a "conscious watch" against corruption and provide credible information on fraud, diversion of public resources, and other financial crimes to the appropriate authorities. This, he believes, will help in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, inaugurated the zonal directorate office and assured the EFCC of continued Federal Government support. Tinubu said decentralizing the EFCC's operations in the South-East would ensure that the commission's presence and impact reach more sectors of society. He commended the EFCC for its efforts in combating corruption, describing the fight against economic and financial crimes as critical to national development.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State said the state government would continue to partner with the EFCC in combating economic and financial crimes. Soludo stated that Anambra would collaborate with the commission on taxation and revenue generation, as well as the training of local government staff and civil servants. This partnership aims to strengthen the state's capacity to prevent and investigate financial crimes.
The inauguration of the Awka Zonal Directorate was also attended by Senator Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the APC Governors' Forum and Governor of Imo State. Uzodimma welcomed the decentralization of EFCC operations to the South-East, saying it would reduce the burden on residents of the region who previously traveled to Abuja or Lagos for invitations, questioning, and other official engagements with the commission.
Other stakeholders, including Igwe Chidubem Iweka, the President of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, and Ginger Onwusibe, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes, expressed their commitment to supporting the EFCC in its fight against economic and financial crimes. They noted the increasing incidence of fraud, popularly known as 419, in the country and assured Nigerians of the commitment of the EFCC leadership to bringing perpetrators of economic and financial crimes to justice.
Key points
- The EFCC received 49,673 petitions and secured 10,872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026.
- The commission is adopting a preventive approach to financial crimes, collaborating with government institutions to identify areas vulnerable to fraud.
- The establishment of the Awka Zonal Directorate aims to bring EFCC operations closer to Nigerians and strengthen its capacity to tackle financial crimes.
