The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a stern warning, asserting that corrupt individuals will find no place to hide as the agency intensifies arrests, suspensions, and investigations of government officials implicated in corruption allegations.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede made this declaration during a meeting with the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The statement comes in the wake of the recent suspension and probe of government officials, including the National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Program Agency, Ms Halima Shehu, over alleged financial wrongdoing.
President Bola Tinubu’s directive prompted immediate action, with the EFCC also scrutinizing former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, for an alleged N37.1 billion fraud, along with her predecessor, Betta Edu, over alleged fraudulent activities.
In his words; “We believe that with the kind of President we have, who is ready and willing to do the right thing, and from what we have seen in recent times and the last 48 hours, it is clear that he has provided the political will and leadership and created the atmosphere for us to work.
“So, there is no hiding place for the corrupt. We must give our best, we must be committed and give the President the support he needs. Nobody is too big to be investigated in this country. Once you are not playing according to the rules, we will investigate you.”
He further noted that the engagement with the ICPC was sending the right signals to the entire country that the anti-corruption agencies are coming together and extending hands of comradeship and fellowship to each other with a mind to work together.
He recalled that there was a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between both agencies.