The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that the commission received a total of 14,000 petitions from members of the public in one year.
A statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Tuesday, said the chairman stated this in Abuja when the Special Envoy for West Africa, Dr. Charles Omini, paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the commission.
He noted that Nigerians have no business being poor if resources are well managed and accounted for, adding that by now Nigeria would have being at par with America given the amount of natural resources it has.
He also reiterated that fighting corruption is winnable if all Nigerians come together and join hands with EFCC to ensure good governance and a better country for all.
The statement reads in parts: “In the last one year, we have received over fourteen thousand petitions, credible petitions, fourteen thousand, within the space of twelve months.
“The war is winnable, there are some countries where their own cases were even worse than our own. Our associates in Singapore, Hong Kong told us they used to be worse than Nigeria, but we have gotten to that point where everyone will say let us come back to the discussion table and do the right thing. Everybody is now realizing that we have done ourselves so much evil. If all of us can come together, we will overwhelm them.”
He charged the envoy to strengthen the anti-corruption fight more by making Nigerians realise that corruption is robbing them of their rights to good life and good governance.
“Let people know that their rights have been violated, it is not about EFCC, it is about every one of us, let us collaborate more,” he said.
On his part, Dr. Charles Omini stated that his team was at the EFCC to appreciate the commission on its efforts towards ridding Nigeria of corruption, economic and financial crimes.
“We have seen the level of impact. You stood very well to make sure corruption in Nigeria is reduced at all levels. Our first phase of partnership that has brought us here is for our strategic and technical team, the crusade you are carrying on, we are going to partner with you and make sure we take this crusade at every level to every Nigerian and beyond Nigeria, ” he said.
Omini submitted that the rights of the EFCC and its officers are important and should be protected. “Part of our collaboration that brought us here today is to make sure we stand with you at all levels, that your rights and the rights of your officers and men are defended at all times, ” he said. The group later presented an award to Olukoyede.
