Crime
BREAKING: Olukoyede Vows To Sustain Fight Against Corruption
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Monday, July 8, 2024, reiterated the Commission’ s determination to intensify the fight against both economic and financial crimes, and other acts of corruption without let or hindrance.
He stated this in Abuja while addressing representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who were at the EFCC’s headquarters, Abuja on a solidarity visit.
According to him, fighting corruption is a collective responsibility of every stakeholder in the anti-corruption corridor, promising that the EFCC would not relent even as he charged Nigerians students to join the Commission in the fight.
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He said, “It is a collective responsibility to fight corruption in Nigeria. The EFCC will not relent, I promise you that whatever it is going to cost us to fight this fight we will fight it.
“As Nigerian Students, you have a future and it is our responsibility to protect you to ensure that you successfully run through your educational system and pass out and get a good job.”
Olukoyede insisted that leaders at all levels of government should be accountable to the people, pointing out that every opportunity to serve Nigerians should be considered as a privilege with readiness to offer maximum benefits to the people.
“There is nothing personal about it, what we are saying is we must be able to hold people accountable, if you have spent eight years, four yearS, even if it is one year, by the time you come out, the position you are holding is a position of trust on behalf of all Nigerians. So what we are simply saying is that when you finish, come, we want you to explain how you spent our common wealth while you were in the office”, he said.
He urged the youth to join hands with the EFCC and be foot soldiers of the Commission, as well as extending the message of the EFCC and support the good cause and direction of the EFCC to the thirty six states of the federation.
He thanked the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Students Loans Scheme adding that it will help the students in securing a better future.
He assured the students that the EFCC would work in concert with the handlers of the Scheme to ensure that its purpose is achieved.
Olukoyede also reacted to a shadowy group threatening to invade the Commission’s offices across the country in the guise of drawing their concerns to some operations of the EFCC.
“I know they are being sponsored by the people we are investigating”, he said.
He assured that there shall be no sacred cows in the anti-corruption fight. “Some of you have been asking questions about one or two people that we have been investigating. Don’t worry everybody will have his day in court, I promise you that”, he said.
He dismissed insinuations being made about recent operations of the EFCC in Akure and Lagos, explaining that out of the 127 suspects arrested in Akure, 113 were indicted and 80 already charged to court. In the Lagos operations, he disclosed that over 100 suspects arrested have been indicted for involvement in internet fraud.
He charged the students to be reform-minded and desist from anti-social tendencies.
One of the Student leaders, NANS’s Senate President, Senator Akinteye Babantunde stated that NANS came out to show support for the EFCC in its crusade against any form of corruption.
“We stand in full support of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its relentless efforts in the anti-corruption war. This is not borne out of our personal aggrandizement but out of the desire to have a state that is firm and uphold the core values of integrity and honesty”, he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of renowned gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.
Biztellers reports that Thankgod is facing allegations of involvement in a $345,000 fraud case.
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The arrest warrant had been issued by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court on January 16, 2025, following an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking to compel Thankgod’s appearance in court.
During a court session on Friday, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, applied to withdraw the warrant, stating that the charges had already been served on Thankgod’s lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, SAN, during open court proceedings.
She argued that the warrant was no longer necessary.
Justice Owoeye granted the application and formally vacated the bench warrant.
Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, appeared in the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday to challenge charges of N12.3 billion fraud.
Biztellers reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 13-count indictment against Otudeko, along with Olabisi Onasanya, former Managing Director of FirstBank Plc., Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell, and Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
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During the proceedings, the defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), raised an objection, stating that the charge had not been properly served to Otudeko or his co-defendants.
Olanipekun emphasized this issue as a reason for protest in court.
The EFCC has accused the individuals and the company of fraudulently obtaining N12.3 billion under false pretenses.
More to follow………..
Crime
Arrested Boko Haram Suspects: Adeleke Commends Security Operatives, Assures Safety Of Residents
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has commended the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), on the successful operation, that led to the arrest of 10 suspected members of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Ilesa, Osun State.
Gov Adeleke expressed his feelings in a statement on micro-blogging site, X, on Saturday.
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According to the statement, Gov Adeleke hailed the alertness of security operatives, to eliminate the threats posed by the suspected terrorists, which gives further assurance that our security agencies are up to the task of sustaining peace and security of every part of Nigeria.
He particularly commended the intelligence gathering of the personnel of the State Service, who have painstakingly monitor the activities of the suspected criminals and moved swiftly to cut off their dastardly act.
“This is a welcome development and a big relief, not just for us as a government but to the people of the state and Nigeria in general. I commend the security operatives for their alertness and intelligence driven operation. We have absolute confidence in our security forces to keep protecting us”, Gov Adeleke declared.
He assured that his administration will continue to cooperate with security agencies and support their operations to ensure maximum protection of lives and property of Osun people, noting that this remains top of his priority.
“As the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, I will continue to give priority to issues of security of my people. I will continue to support efforts of security agencies to guard against any breakdown of law and order in any part of Osun. We will sustain the good relationship and collaboration that currently exists between our administration and the security agencies in the state” the Governor noted.
Gov Adeleke enjoined residents of Osun to continue to be watchful, and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods to relevant security agency, while assuring that Osun will continue to be a peaceful state under his watch.
“I hereby call on my people to continue to live in peace and harmony and be at alert to report any suspicious activities or behavior around them to the relevant security authorities. Together, we will ensure that Osun remains the most peaceful state in Nigeria” he concluded.
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