Tinubu to EFCC: You have justified my faith in you

President Bola Tinubu has applauded the work done by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed in it.
A press release by the EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Friday in Abuja, said the President commended Awka, Anambra State for the commissioning of a new zonal directorate of the EFCC.
Oyewale said President Tinubu had highlighted that there was clear evidence of the success of the Commission in terms of convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements
Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said: “Sustaining the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the trust reposed in it is well founded. Bluntly, the evidentiary record of the EFCC’s success speaks volumes in terms of convictions secured, assets and properties recovered.”
The President said the Commission’s strides went hand in hand with his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, saying: “When we arrived three years ago, I highlighted nine key focal areas of my administration, two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promoting good governance.
“The anti-corruption agency commends this program as it is focused on accountability, transparency and appropriate use of resources.”
Oyewale noted that while in office, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to preventive frameworks in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.
According to the head of the agency, the Commission will continue to focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking the avenues through which they could occur.
“This new Directorate will not only apply the law professionally and courageously, but will also engage in the prevention of corruption and involve government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organizations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities.
“It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilize people in the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the area,” he said.
Olukoyede assured Nigerians that the EFCC will not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.
“Pursuing our mandate has been our core commitment and we have made impressive progress in recent years. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49,673 petitions, examined 39,615 cases, brought 14,476 cases to court and obtained 10,872 convictions.
“This gives a conviction to declaration ratio of 75.1%. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1,370 convictions from 1,889 declarations. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1,233,612,040,411,11,684,478,457,32,32,373,905 pounds. 9,343,803 euros in addition to recoveries in other currencies,” he explained.
The Head of the Commission noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made sweeping reforms which have yielded optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the processes and procedures of the agency, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has had and will continue to have in all spheres of law enforcement. “Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Department of Security, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre,” he said.
Accusing Ndi Anambra of whistleblowing, the anti-corruption czar said the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can petition and provide information.
He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye app allows citizens to provide details of alleged wrongdoing and makes the provision of the whistleblower’s personal data optional. “However, reporting must be responsible and fact-based. It must not become a tool to settle scores,” Olukoyede said.
He later said that Anambra and Imo states deserve an effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, trade and an outstanding industrial culture, adding that these legitimate businesses must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes.
“Therefore, our arrival in Awka is about more than geographical expansion. It is about bringing the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and economic activities we are supposed to protect,” he said.
Also speaking were the governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo; and Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said they were satisfied with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede.
They pledged their support to the Commission in opening a new zonal directorate in their domain.
The appointment of the new directorate saw a massive turnout of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others