President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its efforts in combating economic and financial crimes and corruption in Nigeria. According to Tinubu, the EFCC has justified the confidence reposed in it by his administration. The President made this statement during the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in Awka, Anambra State. Tinubu was represented at the event by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Tinubu stated that the EFCC's achievements provided evidence of its effectiveness, particularly in convictions secured and assets recovered. He added that supporting the EFCC was not difficult because the agency had demonstrated that the confidence placed in it was well founded. The President noted that the Commission's activities align with his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic reforms, good governance, accountability, and transparency in the management of public resources.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that the Commission had made significant progress in the enforcement of its mandate over the past 34 months. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the EFCC received 49,673 petitions, investigated 39,615 cases, and filed 14,476 cases in court. Olukoyede also stated that the Commission secured 10,872 convictions within the period, representing a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 per cent.
Olukoyede further disclosed that the EFCC recorded 1,370 convictions from 1,889 court filings in the first half of 2026 alone. He also mentioned that the Commission recovered N1,233,612,040,411.11, $684,478,457.32, £373,905.78, and €9,343,803.66, in addition to recoveries made in other currencies. The EFCC chairman attributed part of the Commission's progress to institutional reforms introduced in recent years to strengthen its operations.
The EFCC chairman stated that the newly commissioned Awka Zonal Directorate would combine enforcement with preventive measures designed to make corruption more difficult to perpetrate. He said the office would work with government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies, and communities. Olukoyede also urged residents of Anambra and Imo states to participate in the fight against corruption through responsible whistleblowing.
Olukoyede cautioned that whistleblowing must be based on facts and should not be used to settle personal scores. He said the Commission's Eagle Eye application allows citizens to provide information about suspected offences without necessarily disclosing their personal details. The EFCC chairman noted that Anambra and Imo states required an effective and responsive institutional presence because of their reputation for enterprise, innovation, commerce, and industry.
The EFCC's efforts to combat economic and financial crimes in Nigeria have yielded significant results, with the Commission securing a high number of convictions and recovering substantial assets. The agency's preventive approach, which includes education and mobilization of the public, is expected to further enhance its effectiveness in the fight against corruption. Key initiatives, such as the Eagle Eye application, have been established to facilitate responsible whistleblowing and encourage public participation in the fight against corruption.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu commends EFCC for justifying confidence in its anti-corruption efforts.
- EFCC secures 10,872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026.
- EFCC adopts preventive measures, including education and whistleblowing channels, to combat corruption.
