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Abbas, Olukoyede, Soludo, Uzodimma, Others Attend Opening of EFCC Regional Office in Anambra

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Olukoyede

Abbas, Olukoyede, Soludo, Uzodimma, Others Attend Opening of EFCC Regional Office in Anambra

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, were among dignitaries who attended the opening of the EFCC’s office in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Friday.
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President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Abbas, which was attended by prominent members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers from Anambra and Imo states, as well as captains of industry.

Speaking in his opening address, Olukoyede said the commission had begun the digitisation of its processes, adding that more than 60 per cent of its activities were currently digitised.

He said the EFCC’s zonal facility, strategically located in Awka, was aimed at significantly expanding the commission’s operational footprint and strengthening its capacity to deliver accountability oversight across Anambra and Imo states.

He said the establishment of the office was more than geographical expansion, adding that it would bring the agency closer to the people and the economic activities it was mandated to protect.

The newly commissioned EFCC’s office in Awka…Photo Credit: Ikenna Obianeri
He said, “This facility significantly expands our operational footprint and reinforces our capacity to deliver comprehensive accountability oversight across both Anambra and Imo states.

“So, it is one office that covers two states – Anambra and Imo. The dedication of this building today represents an expansion of access to justice, an expansion of our operational capacity, and, importantly, an expansion of the collaboration between the EFCC and the Nigerian public in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

“The establishment of this zonal directorate is integral to the commission’s expansion made possible by the generous appropriation of the National Assembly and the strategic interventions of President Bola Tinubu, for which we express our profound gratitude.

“Under the current reform agenda, we are establishing directorates in Ekiti State, which we commissioned a couple of months ago; Anambra State, which we are commissioning today; and Katsina State, which we will be commissioning next week.”

Olukoyede said the strategic expansion was designed to strengthen the fight against economic and financial crimes across the affected states, which he described as centres of enterprise, innovation and commerce.

He said the commission received 49,615 petitions between October 2023 and July 2024, out of which 39,632 cases were investigated.

He said, “Across both states, we see Nigerians creating businesses, building industry, trading, investing, and also generating employment.

“These legitimate economic activities must be protected from fraud, from cybercrime and money laundering, advance fee fraud, diversion of public resources, and other forms of economic and financial crime.

“Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It’s about bringing the agency a bit closer to the people, and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect.

“I need to emphasise this because I don’t want anybody to go and be fighting with our coming. Part of our mandate is also to help you to safeguard your economy. And that’s one of the things EFCC is known for.

“And so, I charge Mr Governor and the head of the office here to develop a cordial working relationship. We look at vulnerable areas in the system, vulnerability in particular areas, and areas that are vulnerable to fraud, and we work with you to draw what we call risk assessment and control.

“That will be part of the mission. So, we are not just here to hunt you, we are here to work with you to make sure that you succeed in your economic activities.

“In pursuit of our mandate as well, our primary engagement is in corruption. We have made impressive progress.”

Olukoyede added that the commission had filed 14,436 cases in court and secured 10,872 convictions within the period under review.

“This gives a conviction that the commission is taking the fight against financial crimes seriously,” he added.

The Speaker, Abbas, who represented President Tinubu, urged the governments of Anambra and Imo states to protect the critical infrastructure.

He said Nigeria’s economic resurgence and improved investment outlook owed much to the commission’s enforcement operations, which, according to him, culminated in the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025.

He added that the EFCC’s enforcement operations served as proof of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts.

According to him, the achievements had strengthened the nation’s financial security and restored international confidence in its economic potential.

In his address, Soludo welcomed the EFCC team to Anambra, saying the commission should ideally have offices in all 774 local government areas of the country to effectively fight financial crimes.

Soludo said his administration would partner with the anti-graft agency in the fight against economic crimes in the state.

“We are enthusiastic and excited to ensure that there is EFCC in Anambra here, not because our people are into crime. But because fighting crime is everybody’s responsibility. It needs to be heavy. Ideally, EFCC should be in the 774 LGAs of the country.

Olukoyede

Olukoyede

“And so this regional office covering Anambra and Imo states is a welcome development, and we say thank you very much; welcome to Anambra.

“We will cooperate with you in everywhere possible to make sure that your work goes well. In a society where you have pervasive economic and financial crimes, that society will not move forward economically or in development.”

In his remarks, Uzodimma commended the EFCC chairman for expanding the capacity of the anti-graft agency, saying Imo State would partner with the commission in the fight against financial crimes.
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Crime

Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers

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Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
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The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.

The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations

Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

Oil

The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.

ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO

Navy Captain

Director Naval Information

Nigerian Navy
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Economy

NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation

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NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has unveiled a nationwide ₦66 fuel discount promotion for customers using the NNPC Fuel App.
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In a post obtained from its X handle on Friday, the promotion, which runs from October 1 to 7, is being held across NNPC stations nationwide as part of activities marking the period.

“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!

“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!

The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.

NNPC said customers across the country have already begun participating in the promotion, with highlights from the first day showing activities at several stations.

“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

NNPC

NNPC

NNPC also shared moments from the first day of the promotion and said more pictures and activities from stations across the country would be released.

The company urged customers not to miss the opportunity to participate before the promotion ends on October 7.

The ₦66 discount offer is available through the NNPC Fuel App during the stated promotional period.
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Economy

President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You

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EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
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He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements

Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”

He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.

“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 promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.

At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.

According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.

“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 organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said

He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.

“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.

He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.

“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.

While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.

EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

EFCC

He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.

In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.

The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
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