Increase arrest, conviction of corrupt individuals, AGF tells EFCC

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover Nigerian stolen wealth stashed in foreign countries.

Speaking during the opening of a new office complex of the Ilorin zonal command of the EFCC on Thursday, the AGF said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is determined to rid Nigeria of corruption.

He said the government expected a leap in the arrest and convictions of corrupt individuals in the coming days.

“Therefore, it would not be misplaced to expect a leap in investigations, arrests, prosecution, convictions and asset forfeitures from this zone in the coming days.

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“The recovery and repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen wealth is an issue of great concern to this administration and the EFCC is expected to continue to lead the charge to trace, recover and facilitate the return of our stolen wealth”, he said.

Daily Trust reports that several millions in foreign currencies embezzled by past leaders and politicians have been recovered and repatriated by previous administrations in the country.

Fagbemi said it was Tinubu government’s plan to free Nigeria from the grips of corruption, adding that the EFCC was pivotal to the actualisation of the dream.

In realisation of the objective, the AGF hinted at the government’s plan to embark on technological reforms aimed at strengthening legal frameworks that would improve the commission’s investigation and assets recovery efforts.

“Beyond providing accommodation for the personnel of the commission, it is the contemplation of this administration to remove every institutional and legal obstacle encumbering your work”, he said.

He reminded officers of the commission’s obligation to always conduct its affairs strictly in accordance with the rule of law.

“Myself and the executive chairman, Ola Olukoyede, are in accord on this, and I hope all personnel of the commission will appreciate the fact that corruption is best fought within the ambit of the law”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, charged officers of the commission to be unsparing in their efforts to sanitise the business environment and support the country’s drive to attract Foreign Direct Investment.

Olukoyede said the commission is not out to kill legitimate businesses, adding that there is the need to refocus the anti-corruption war by adopting modalities to stimulate economic growth and development in the overall interests of Nigerians.

He described the commissioning of the Ilọrin zonal office complex as “a dream come true and fulfilment of a promise made when he was in Ilorin on a familiarisation visit.”

He praised the command for the successes recorded particularly in the mining sector and urged its officers to intensify efforts to ensure actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration in the solid minerals sector.

Olukoyede, however, charged his men for more commitment, dedication and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

In his goodwill message, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State said that the fight against corruption is a national campaign that we must all support, especially at institutional levels.

The newly commissioned office complex, apart from providing office accommodation for all categories of staff, also has purpose-built interrogation rooms, a holding facility for suspects and canteen among others.