By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede has described graft and other related crimes as greatest threats to growth and development of Nigeria.
He posited that no one is immune to the contagion of corruption which according to him, is the reason all nations collectively agreed to fight the endemic headlong, adding that no country could make economic and sociopolitical prosperity with nonchalant attitudes to fighting grafts.
Olukoyede made the submission in a speech marking 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day in Kaduna.
The prepared speech read by Kaduna Zonal Commander of the antigraft agency, Aisha Abubakar reiterated resolve and commitment of EFCC to fight corruption in collaboration with other agencies and important stakeholders within the ambience of rule of law and international conventions.
He described this year’s theme; Uniting the World Against Corruption as timely, which he noted, underscores the revolutionary impact of the United Nations global action and mobilization against corruption.
“United Nations Anti-Corruption Organ through its resolutions and interventions has become the fulcrum of the global resistance against corruption, creating and adopting successful anti-corruption models on which nations rely upon in the fight against the menace.
“For us at the EFCC, We remain committed to working with the corruption prevention template recommended by UNCAC in driving collaboration and synergy with local and foreign law enforcement agencies, professionalism, and strict adherence to rule of law as the absolute minimum in all activities of the Commission.
“Only through professionalism and adherence to the rule of law will the Commission be able to contribute to economic growth by restoring investors’ confidence in our economy, creating conducive environment for job creation and improving our international image.
“We are joining the rest of the World today to say corruption is injurious to human development and I want this to be an article of faith to all of us and in addition, We must seek new ways to identify with the clarion for unity by UNCAC so that every threat to our development would be destroyed,” he urged.
The anniversary was marked with a road walk by the agency in Kaduna, joined by military, paramilitary and various organizations.
The procession led by the Zonal Commander Aisha Abubakar took off as early as Seven in the morning from the commission’s Kaduna office, crisscrossing the popular Kawo Road chanting different anti-corruption slogans to the admiration of members of the public.
Mrs. Abubakar at the end of the road walk disclosed that the commission under the leadership of the current chairman had successfully secured 235 convictions of graft suspects.
She solicited the cooperation of members of the public by reporting persons and cases of corruption so that the society would be a better place for all.
