President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its performance in combating corruption, financial crimes, and economic sabotage, declaring that the anti-graft agency has justified the confidence reposed in it by Nigerians and the Federal Government.
The President made the remarks on Friday during the commissioning of a new EFCC Zonal Directorate in Awka, Anambra State.
Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Tinubu said the agency’s achievements in securing convictions and recovering stolen assets provide clear evidence of its effectiveness in the fight against corruption.
“Supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed in it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered,” the President stated.
Tinubu noted that the Commission’s accomplishments align closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, particularly in the areas of economic reforms, good governance, transparency, and accountability.
He recalled that upon assuming office three years ago, his administration identified key priority areas, including economic transformation and the promotion of good governance.
“The anti-graft agency complements this agenda as it is focused on accountability, transparency, and the appropriate deployment of resources,” he said.
Speaking at the event, EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening preventive measures against corruption and financial crimes across the country.
According to him, beyond investigating and prosecuting offenders, the EFCC is increasingly focused on creating systems and frameworks that make corrupt practices more difficult to perpetrate.
“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities,” Olukoyede said.
He explained that the Awka Directorate would prioritize stakeholder engagement, public enlightenment, and partnership-building to foster collective ownership of the anti-corruption campaign.
The EFCC chairman also highlighted the Commission’s achievements over the past 34 months, describing them as evidence of significant progress in the agency’s law enforcement mandate.
According to him, between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49,673 petitions, investigated 39,615 cases, filed 14,476 cases in court, and secured 10,872 convictions, representing a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent.
He further disclosed that in the first half of 2026 alone, the EFCC secured 1,370 convictions from 1,889 cases filed in court.
Olukoyede revealed that the Commission recovered more than N1.23 trillion, $684.48 million, £373,905, and €9.34 million, alongside assets and funds recovered in other foreign currencies.
He attributed the agency’s improved performance to a series of institutional reforms introduced in recent years to strengthen operational efficiency and accountability.
The reforms, he explained, include the introduction of new guidelines on arrest and bail procedures, the review of sting operations, and the establishment of specialized units such as the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section, and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre.
“These reforms have strengthened the Commission and led to significant improvements in our processes and procedures. They partly explain the impact the EFCC has made and will continue to make across all areas of law enforcement,” Olukoyede said.
The commissioning of the new zonal office is expected to enhance the EFCC’s operational capacity in the South-East region, while providing a stronger platform for enforcement, prevention, public engagement, and collaboration with stakeholders in the fight against corruption.
