Platforms Africa ‘s Damilola Olanade, who examines the report released by the National Bureau of Statistics that N721bn was received as bribe by Nigerian public officials in 2023, unearths 10 Key areas the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is championing the war against corruption and how his efforts can be assessed and accessed.
He has not hidden his hatred for graft and it may be difficult to failt him. For the umpteenth time and at every opportunity, Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) speaks against corruption, which he describes as “the next deadliest affliction of humanity.” Asides the statutory responsibility he has to lead the fight against graft of all shades, he has been seen to have made frantic efforts to make all Nigerians profess the same hatred for the scourge, and this is why faulting him on this is extremely difficult.
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Statistics On Corruption
A fresh report released by the National Bureau of Statistics has indicated that N721bn was received as bribe by Nigerian public officials in 2023, Platforms Africa has earlier reported
The report titled, “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends”, was released by NBS on Thursday.
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According to NBS, the N721bn paid in bribes across the country in 2023 amounted to about 0.35 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
The report which was based on a survey conducted with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, stressed that the average cash received by public office holders in 2023 was N8,284, an increase from an average of N5,754 in 2019.
The report read in part, “According to the 2023 survey, the average cash bribe paid was 8,284 Nigerian Naira.
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“While the nominal average cash bribe size increased since 2019 (from NGN 5,754), this does not account for inflation. The inflation-adjusted average cash bribe in 2023 was 29 per cent smaller than in 2019 in terms of what could be bought with the money.
“Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly NGN 721 billion (US$1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria.”
The Political Economy of Graft
It is a known fact that Nigeria conducted its general elections in 2023. Some opposition parties had alleged that the election which produced President Bola Tinubu, governors and lawmakers was marred by corruption.
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Some electoral officials and security agencies were accused of receiving bribes in a bid to allow for alterations of results.
A War Monger Against Sleaze
To the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, ‘Corruption is the next deadliest affliction of humanity’.
Olukoyede said apart from terrorism, corruption is the next deadliest affliction of humanity.
He said most of the governors being prosecuted today were those who couldn’t pay minimum wage.
He asked Nigerians to embrace whistleblowing by exposing corruption in the country.
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Olukoyede made the disclosures while addressing stakeholders at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day.
He called for enhanced and consistent commitment to whistle blowing by Nigerians to tackle the menace of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
He said: “Aside terrorism, corruption ranks as the next deadliest affliction of humanity in every region of the world.
“In view of the danger and threat to our existence which corruption represents, it is imperative that individuals, communities, corporate bodies and indeed the whole world join hands to tackle it frontally.
“ One way of doing this is through the whistle-blowing initiative”.
Olukoyede said the fight against corruption required absolute commitment to integrity and unfaltering focus.
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“We cannot win the war against corruption through lip service, emotional outburst or mere mob campaigns.
“There is need for commitment, passion, consistence and credibility of intelligence. Every whistle blown must point towards truth and evidential proofs”, he said.
He pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Civil society organizations to be part of the anti-graft war.
Olukoyede said “most of the governors being prosecuted today were those who couldn’t pay minimum wage.
“This is an urgent need for us to fight corruption and NLC will throw its weight behind the agency in all fight against corruption.”
Recruiting The Labour, CSOs For The Fight
NLC President, Joe Ajearo, promised that the union would fully support the EFCC in its fight against corruption.
Various stakeholders at the Road Walk bared their minds on the need for more affirmative actions against corruption.
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The Chairperson, Conference of Civil Society and Coordinator Civil Military Co-operation (CIMCO), Adams Otakwu, commended the EFCC for galvanizing Nigerians to stand against corruption.
Otakwu said: “It may interest us to know that upon all the threat to national security inclusive of terrorism, insurgency, proliferation of small arms and light weapons the most insidious of them is corruption and that is why the fight against corruption must be tackled head on”.
Other speakers were the Representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Etim Markus, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, among others.
10 key areas of Anti-corruption fight
Here are practical examples expanding on the 10 points about the EFCC’s fight against corruption:
1. Investigation and Prosecution: EFCC investigated and prosecuted former governors, ministers, and other high-profile individuals for embezzlement and money laundering.
2. Corruption Prevention: EFCC launched the “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of corruption and promote ethical conduct.
3. Asset Forfeiture: EFCC seized and forfeited properties worth billions of naira traced to corrupt individuals, including luxury houses and cars.
4. Conviction and Sentencing: EFCC secured convictions and sentencing of corrupt individuals, including a former governor sentenced to 14 years in prison for money laundering.
5. Collaboration with International Agencies: EFCC collaborated with Interpol to extradite a fugitive who fled to another country to avoid prosecution for fraud.
6. Whistleblower Protection: EFCC protected a whistleblower who exposed a massive fraud scheme in a government agency.
7. Public Engagement: EFCC organized town hall meetings in different regions to educate citizens about the effects of corruption and encourage them to report suspicious activities.
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8. Capacity Building: EFCC trained staff on advanced forensic investigation techniques to enhance their skills in investigating complex financial crimes.
9. Judicial Support: EFCC worked with the judiciary to establish specialized courts for corruption cases, ensuring swift and effective prosecution.
10. Intelligence Gathering: EFCC used intelligence gathering to uncover a large-scale money laundering scheme involving a network of shell companies and foreign accounts.
Keeping Feet For Fight
In Abuja, the Day was marked by a colourful Road Walk by staff of the EFCC and other stakeholders in the anti-corruption corridor. Amidst dancing, singing and exhilarating clarions, Olukoyede led the Walk from the Wuse 2 Zonal office of the EFCC through streets of Maitama and terminated it at the Unity Fountain.
To Olukoyede, most of the governors being prosecuted today were those who couldn’t pay minimum wage.
He asked Nigerians to embrace whistleblowing by exposing corruption in the country.
He called for enhanced and consistent commitment to whistle blowing by Nigerians to tackle the menace of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
Whistleblowing To The Rescue
In view of the danger and threat to our existence which corruption represents, it is imperative that individuals, communities, corporate bodies and indeed the whole world join hands to tackle it frontally.
“ One way of doing this is through the whistle-blowing initiative”.
Olukoyede said the fight against corruption required absolute commitment to integrity and unfaltering focus.
“We cannot win the war against corruption through lip service, emotional outburst or mere mob campaigns.
“There is need for commitment, passion, consistence and credibility of intelligence. Every whistle blown must point towards truth and evidential proofs”, he said.
Last line
With the above damning revelations about corruption in high and low places in Nigeria, it is an open secret that the scourge is all out to destroy Nigeria. Therefore, all Nigerians should see the need to rally round the EFCC led by Olukoyede, and its fight against the enemy of their dear nation. And to apply the Chinese proverb for the best timing to support the anti-graft war; “the best time to, at any ooint in time, plant a tree is always the last 10 years. The second best time to do that is now.”
Platforms Africa
