Security
Olukoyede to Local Government Chairmen: Accountability Must Reach Grassroots
Olukoyede to Local Government Chairmen: Accountability Must Reach Grassroots
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has assured local government council chairmen and chairmen of traditional rulers’ councils across the country that anti-corruption enforcement would penetrate the grassroots in order to make development closer to the people.
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He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at the maiden Annual National Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen and Traditional Rulers Councils.
According to him, the Commission’s commitment to accountability does not stop at the federal level, pledging closer attention to transparency at the sub-national tier as well. He noted that as more resources flow to local governments, the real measure of success will be whether that funding translates into tangible improvements in the everyday lives of grassroots communities. He pointed out that the EFCC’s work supports every pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and pledged that accountability efforts would extend to the sub-national level.
“The EFCC is equally committed to transparency and accountability at the sub-national level and would want to see the improved resources flow to the third tier of government translate into improvement in the quality of lives of the grassroots population,” he said.
Represented by the Director, Public Affairs Department, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC Chairman highlighted the conversion of recovered proceeds of crime into public investment, noting that the Federal Government had directed ₦50 billion each from recovered funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), with further funding since approved. He also cited the transformation of the forfeited former NOK University in Kaduna State into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, which he said had enrolled 1,909 students by December 2025.
On national security, Olukoyede said economic crime and security threats could no longer be treated as separate concerns, pointing to the financing of terrorist organisations, illegal mining, cross-border cybercrime and money laundering as serious security issues. He disclosed that the Commission’s specialised enforcement portfolio had recorded 920 cases and 212 convictions, with further investigations and prosecutions ongoing across money laundering, terrorist financing, illegal mining and virtual-assets fraud.
He added that almost 60 per cent of the Commission’s processes and operations had been digitalised, alongside continued investment in the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre and investigative technology, to protect Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy from fraud and abuse.
“We will investigate professionally, prosecute on the strength of evidence and respect the constitutional role of the courts in determining guilt or innocence. No title should place anyone outside the reach of the law, but neither should the fight against corruption be separated from due process.”
Olukoyede recalled that between October 2023 and the period covered by the Commission’s recent stewardship account, the EFCC recorded recoveries exceeding ₦1.233 trillion, alongside about $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million in other currencies. He said roughly two-thirds of the naira recovered was returned to ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies and individuals, with federal and state tax recoveries alone totalling about ₦288.1 billion.
He stressed that recovery should not end with seizure, noting that approximately ₦661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during the period under review, including individuals, companies, government institutions and revenue authorities. “Recovery reaches its highest value when recovered assets are returned to citizens or converted into productive national use,” he said.
Turning to the council chairmen, Olukoyede said the Commission was strengthening its own internal standards, including new arrest and bail guidelines and conflict-of-interest safeguards, so that an institution demanding accountability from others also holds itself to the same standard. He urged that accountability “become a living principle rather than a slogan” across all tiers of government, particularly as more resources flow to local councils.
Olukoyede linked Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 to sustained inter-agency reforms in which the EFCC played a central role, describing the anti-corruption fight as an instrument for economic growth, national reputation and investor confidence. He said the delisting mattered because international investors weigh not only the size of an economy but the strength of its institutions and the integrity of its financial system.
This was as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the vision and focus of his administration was about shortening the distance between government and the governed, widening access to services and creating more centres of local development.
Ola Olukoyede
Building on that experience, President Tinubu who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume said his administration, “since 2023, has pursued national development with a strengthened belief that Nigeria cannot develop from the centre alone. Development must take root from the bottom up.”
The President also told the LGA Chairmen that “Nigerians in all parts of the country must witness and experience better primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, safe water, stronger food systems, support for small businesses and opportunities for women and young people.”
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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
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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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
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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Nigerian Air Force Celebrates Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day with Families in Lagos
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) marked Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary with a family-centred celebration at the ATO Field, NAF Base Ikeja, Lagos, bringing together children and families of personnel in an atmosphere of patriotism, unity and camaraderie.
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The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal AA Suleh, joined the celebration and presented gift items to the children. The event, facilitated by the Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Air Commodore MA Imam, featured games, music, cultural displays and other recreational activities.
Nigerian Air Force
The celebration reinforced the NAF’s commitment to personnel and family welfare as a key enabler of morale and operational effectiveness, in line with the CAS Command Philosophy, while reaffirming the NAF’s commitment to standing with Nigerians and contributing to a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria.
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