EFCC to Deepen Anti-Corruption Enforcement at Grassroots, Olukoyede Assures Council Chairmen
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has assured local government council chairmen and traditional rulers across the country that the Commission will deepen its anti-corruption enforcement at the grassroots to ensure that public resources translate into tangible development.
Olukoyede stated this on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in Abuja at the maiden Annual National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen and Traditional Rulers Councils.
Represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC Chairman said the Commission’s commitment to accountability extends beyond the federal level to the sub-national tier.
He noted that with increased resources flowing to local governments, the real measure of success would be whether such funds translate into improvements in the daily lives of people in grassroots communities.
“The EFCC is equally committed to transparency and accountability at the sub-national level and would want to see the improved resources flow to the third tier of government translate into improvement in the quality of lives of the grassroots population,” he said.
Olukoyede also highlighted the use of recovered proceeds of crime for public development, noting that the Federal Government had directed ₦50 billion each from recovered funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), with additional funding subsequently approved.
He also cited the conversion of the forfeited former NOK University in Kaduna State into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, which, according to him, had enrolled 1,909 students by December 2025.
On national security, the EFCC chairman said economic crimes and security threats could no longer be treated as separate issues, citing terrorist financing, illegal mining, cross-border cybercrime and money laundering among areas requiring sustained enforcement.
He disclosed that the Commission’s specialised enforcement portfolio had recorded 920 cases and 212 convictions, with investigations and prosecutions continuing in areas including money laundering, terrorist financing, illegal mining and virtual-asset fraud.
Olukoyede further disclosed that almost 60 per cent of the Commission’s processes and operations had been digitalised, alongside continued investment in its Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre and investigative technology to protect Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
“We will investigate professionally, prosecute on the strength of evidence and respect the constitutional role of the courts in determining guilt or innocence. No title should place anyone outside the reach of the law, but neither should the fight against corruption be separated from due process,” he said.
The EFCC chairman said the Commission recorded recoveries exceeding ₦1.233 trillion between October 2023 and the period covered by its recent stewardship account, in addition to about $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million.
He said about two-thirds of the naira recovered was returned to ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies and individuals, with federal and state tax recoveries accounting for about ₦288.1 billion.
Olukoyede stressed that recovery should not end with the seizure of assets, noting that approximately ₦661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during the period under review.
“Recovery reaches its highest value when recovered assets are returned to citizens or converted into productive national use,” he said.
He also said the Commission was strengthening its internal standards through new arrest and bail guidelines and conflict-of-interest safeguards, stressing that an institution demanding accountability from others must equally uphold the same standards.
Olukoyede urged local government leaders to make accountability a practical principle across all tiers of government, particularly as more resources become available to local councils.
He linked Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 to sustained inter-agency reforms in which the EFCC played a central role, saying the development demonstrated the importance of strong institutions and integrity within the country’s financial system.
Also speaking, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said his administration was focused on reducing the distance between government and citizens, expanding access to public services and creating more centres of local development.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President said his administration had, since 2023, pursued national development based on the principle that Nigeria could not develop from the centre alone.
“Development must take root from the bottom up,” Tinubu said.
He urged local government chairmen to ensure that Nigerians across the country experience improvements in primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, access to safe water, food systems, support for small businesses and opportunities for women and young people.
The conference brought together local government council chairmen and traditional rulers to deliberate on grassroots development, accountability and effective governance.
EFCC to Deepen Anti-Corruption Enforcement at Grassroots, Olukoyede Assures Council Chairmen