President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Directorate in Anambra State, strengthening the commission's presence in the South-East region. The new directorate, located at Udoka Estate in Awka, will serve Anambra and Imo states, focusing on intelligence gathering, financial-crime investigations, and prosecutions. This move aims to enhance the EFCC's operational capacity and access to justice in the region.
The commissioning ceremony was performed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on behalf of President Tinubu. Abbas emphasized that the expansion of the EFCC's operational network aligns with the Nigerian Government's Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes combating corruption, money laundering, and other financial crimes. He urged the governments of Anambra and Imo states to provide necessary support and ensure the security of the facility.
Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, welcomed the establishment of the directorate, describing the fight against corruption and financial crimes as a collective responsibility. He stressed that sustainable development cannot be achieved where economic and financial crimes are pervasive. Soludo suggested that EFCC operations should eventually extend across Nigeria's 774 local government areas to strengthen financial-crime prevention and enforcement.
The EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, highlighted that the Awka directorate represents an expansion of the commission's operational capacity, access to justice, and collaboration with the Nigerian public. He disclosed that over 60% of the commission's processes have been digitized, and the EFCC received 49,615 petitions between October 2023 and July 2024. During this period, the commission investigated 39,632 cases, filed 14,436 cases in court, and secured 10,872 convictions.
Olukoyede emphasized that the commission is placing greater emphasis on prevention, including monitoring Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) releases to identify vulnerabilities and protect public funds. He called on citizens, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to support whistleblowing and remain vigilant over public resources. The EFCC chairman assured legitimate businesses and residents that EFCC officers will operate within the law.
Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, commended the Nigerian Government for strengthening the EFCC's operational capacity and pledged his administration's cooperation in tackling financial crimes and protecting public resources. Other dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, reaffirmed the National Assembly's support for the commission's operations.
The Awka directorate is part of the EFCC's broader expansion of its operational network, aimed at bringing financial-crime enforcement and prevention closer to citizens and economic centers across Nigeria. The Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers' Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, called for greater emphasis on prevention, including the introduction of anti-corruption education in primary schools and traditional oaths of office for public officials.
Key points
- The EFCC has received 49,615 petitions between October 2023 and July 2024, investigating 39,632 cases and securing 10,872 convictions.
- The commission has digitized over 60% of its processes to enhance efficiency.
- The new directorate in Awka will serve Anambra and Imo states, focusing on intelligence gathering, financial-crime investigations, and prosecutions.
