The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the scale of alleged public-sector corruption in Nigeria, saying some public officers take national resources “every minute.”
Olukoyede made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at an event marking the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi.
The EFCC chairman disclosed that the commission receives more than 20,000 petitions relating to alleged public corruption annually, describing many of the cases as disturbing.
“I receive over 20,000 petitions in a year in respect to public corruption, all terrible. What is going on? Like every minute, public officers take money, and if you go through some of our case files you will weep.
“The way people take national resources and Nigerians are victims of these fraudulent activities. And we must come together for once in our lifetime and say no to the activities of some of our leaders,” Olukoyede said.
He further alleged that investigations by the commission had uncovered cases involving public officers whose financial positions changed significantly after assuming office.
According to Olukoyede, some individuals entered public service with less than N100,000 in their accounts but were later linked to millions of dollars and naira after spending only a few years in office.
He also said some public officials had accumulated large numbers of properties while serving in government, describing corruption as a major obstacle to Nigeria’s development.
Olukoyede stressed that public officials must be prepared to account for their activities and resources while in office. He called for greater transparency and accountability in public service as part of efforts to address the diversion of national resources.
The EFCC chairman’s comments come amid continued efforts by anti-corruption agencies to investigate alleged financial misconduct and recover suspected proceeds of crime. The receipt of a petition or the opening of an investigation, however, does not by itself establish criminal liability, which remains subject to evidence and due process.
