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We’re not going to relent, we’re not afraid of anything- EFCC boss Olukoyede

EFCC boss Olukoyede and executives of Committee of Youth Mobilization and Sensitization, CYMS, led by their head, Chief Obinna Nwaka

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By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has said Nigerians who desire a better future for the youth and the country, especially those who have suffered harm and humiliation from cybercrime must stand up and be counted for collaboration and partnership with the anti-graft agency.

Olukoyede made the appeal in Abuja on Friday, July 5, 2024 when the executives of Committee of Youth Mobilization and Sensitization, CYMS, led by their head, Chief Obinna Nwaka paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s corporate headquarters, Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity of the anti-graft agency said in a statement.

The EFCC Chairman spoke against the background of plans by some youths to organise a massive protest against the anti-graft agency over the alleged excesses and abuse of suspects by its operatives in the fight against cyber crimes.

But the EFCC Chairman who vowed that the Commission would maintain the tempo of its fight against cyber crimes said instead of such protests, Nigerians should support the Commission in its effort to redeem the youth from the path of derailment.

He said, “It is important for us to realise that if we continue to move in this trajectory the future would be bleak for the youth and the country. We must do something fast. Travel abroad and see the humiliating treatment they give Nigerians. Once they see your Green Passport, they take you aside from the queue and subject you to a thorough search because of the bad image that a few of our youths have created for the country. Nigerians need EFCC. If you are not working, who will even think of you? We are working, that is why you are seeing all these attacks everywhere.

“We are going to maintain this tempo. Well-meaning and reform-minded Nigerians must support us. We must not allow our youths to derail. We have allowed it over a period of time and we have seen the destruction. Some of our youths are smart and skillful. It is just a matter of sensitizing them towards how to channel their talents to productive engagements. There is no future in cybercrime.

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“Let everybody realize this, the fight is not for ourselves. It is for the youth, it is for the entire country. Just imagine what will happen if EFCC does not work for one month, so it is important for us to give this mandate serious collaboration and support.”

He condemned public office holders who would not want to account for their stewardship, stating that such acts of impunity have nurtured corruption in the country. “What we are simply saying is that if you have occupied a position of trust, come and account. You can only run, you can’t hide. If we don’t bring people to account they will drive the country into a pariah state, where anything goes. There is nothing personal about the work we do in the EFCC. You can see the developments that are taking place in countries that do not have the kind of resources that Nigeria has. Nigeria will be great again but we must all come together to fight corruption”, he said.

He appreciated the group for its anti-corruption stance and interventions in the direction of re-orientation of the youth away from cybercrime. “I want to thank you for all the work you do, particularly in the area of sensitizing the youth on the need for them to create a good future for themselves. What is important is for us to be optimistic. We are not going to relent, we are not afraid of anything.”

Earlier in his speech, Nwaka stated that the work of the Commission endeared it to the group because they are geared towards securing the future of Nigerian youths. “We have something deeply running through our veins which is to support and work with the Commission to ensure that corruption is brought to its knees. We also want to thank you for fighting to secure the future of Nigerian youths. That was why we became annoyed a few days ago when we heard that there were some Nigerian youths who do not care about the future of their own generation and want to protest. You are not just trying to secure the future of Nigerian youths but those of unborn generations.

“We want to commend you for the good job that you have done so far. It is not easy because the challenge is enormous. We want to tell you that you have brought new and good initiatives and reforms in the anti-corruption fight. One of them being your policy not to shut down businesses and establishments on account of investigating them.”

He further applauded Olukoyede for the Commission’s crackdown on naira mutilation. “What you are doing to restore respect for the naira can only happen when we have somebody that is firm and dogged in a cause”, he said.