By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the scale of alleged corruption involving public officials in Nigeria.
Olukoyede spoke in Abuja on Thursday at an event organised to mark the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi.
According to the EFCC chairman, the commission receives more than 20,000 petitions concerning alleged public-sector corruption each year. He said some of the cases reveal disturbing levels of financial misconduct.
“I receive over 20,000 petitions in a year in respect to public corruption, all terrible. What is going on? Like every minute, public officers take money, and if you go through some of our case files you will weep.
“The way people take national resources and Nigerians are victims of these fraudulent activities. And we must come together for once in our lifetime and say no to the activities of some of our leaders,” Olukoyede said.
He alleged that some public officials enter government with less than N100,000 in their bank accounts but accumulate substantial wealth within a few years of assuming office.
Olukoyede said investigations by the commission had traced millions of dollars to some officials who allegedly had modest financial resources before taking public positions.
He also alleged that some officials acquire hundreds of houses while still serving in government.
The EFCC chairman said the alleged misuse of public resources was having serious consequences for the country and described corruption as a major threat to Nigeria’s development.
He called on public officials to account for their activities and decisions while in office.
Olukoyede further stressed the need for accountability and transparency across the public service, saying those entrusted with public resources must be prepared to explain how they handled them.
