Tinubu To EFCC: You’ve Made Us Proud!

​AWKA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has showered encomiums on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), declaring that the anti-graft agency has firmly justified the confidence reposed in his administration’s anti-corruption crusade through undeniable milestones in convictions and asset recoveries.

​The President gave this commendation on Friday in Awka, Anambra State, during the official commissioning of a brand-new Zonal Directorate of the Commission designed to oversee operations across Anambra and Imo states.

​Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu stressed that backing the anti-graft body is a straightforward choice because its performance speaks for itself.

​”When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration, two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and the promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency complements this agenda as they are focused on accountability, transparency, and the appropriate deployment of resources,” Tinubu stated.

​A Stellar 34-Month Scorecard

​Presenting the operational achievements of the Commission, EFCC Executive Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede re-echoed the agency’s unyielding commitment to proactive preventive frameworks, institutional reforms, and professional law enforcement.

​Olukoyede revealed that between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49,673 petitions, successfully investigated 39,615 cases, and filed 14,476 cases in court. Out of these filings, the agency secured an impressive 10,872 convictions, translating to a high conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, the EFCC recorded 1,370 convictions from 1,889 filings.

​Financial recoveries within the review period hit unprecedented heights, showcasing the agency’s aggressive asset-tracing framework:

• ​Nigerian Naira: N1,233,612,040,411.11
• ​US Dollars: $684,478,457.32
• ​British Pounds: £373,905.78
• ​Euros: €9,343,803.66 (Alongside substantial recoveries made in multiple other currencies)

​Olukoyede noted that these milestones were driven by aggressive institutional restructuring, including the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre, the Security Department, an Immigration and Visa Section, and revised guidelines on arrests and bail.

​Bringing Enforcement to the Grassroots

​Addressing the gathering, the EFCC boss emphasized that launching the Awka Zonal Directorate goes beyond mere physical expansion. He noted that Anambra and Imo states are renowned for enterprise, innovation, and vibrant commerce, making it critical to shield legitimate economic activities from cybercrime, investment fraud, money laundering, and the diversion of public resources.

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​”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 organizations, traditional institutions, religious bodies, and communities,” Olukoyede said.

​He further charged citizens to utilize responsible whistleblowing channels, such as the Commission’s Eagle Eye App—which keeps informants’ personal details optional—while warning against using petitions as a tool for settling personal scores.

​Regional Leaders Pledge Support

​The commissioning ceremony drew a massive turnout of dignitaries, including federal lawmakers, civil society actors, traditional rulers, and student bodies.

​Prominent among them were the Governors of Anambra and Imo states, Professor Chukwuma Soludo and Senator Hope Uzodinma respectively. In their separate remarks, both governors expressed profound satisfaction with Olukoyede’s leadership, pledging total institutional support and collaboration as the EFCC deepens its operational roots in the Southeast.