Foreign agency backs EFCC over fight against crimes

Japan International Cooperation Agency, (JICA), has expressed readiness to support the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, in his efforts to combat economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

The announcement was made in Abuja on Thursday, May 2, 2024, by the Chief Representative of JICA, Yuzurio Suzumu, during a visit to the corporate headquarters of the EFCC.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Thursday.

Suzumu stated that the EFCC is a crucial partner for cooperation and our goal is to help with Nigeria’s long-term development. We have recognized sustainable economic growth, social progress, good governance, and peacebuilding as the main focuses of our partnership, he said.

The statement read, “The Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, has thrown its weight behind the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede in his determined bid to use the fight against economic and financial crimes as a potent weapon of achieving sustainable economic development and good governance in Nigeria.

“Suzumu emphasized that financial crimes are a cross-sector issue affecting the development of the economy, society, governance, and peace. He expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its strong commitment and effort towards combating economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, as well as making proposals for broad-based capacity-building programs for staff of the EFCC and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs in the area of fighting corruption.

Emphasizing the importance of preventive frameworks against corruption, Olukoyede said that the EFCC is not going to wait for the money to be stolen before taking action.

It further read, “We also stand for sustaining economic development and good governance.

“In fact, upon my assumption of office, one of my policy objectives was to use the anti-corruption instrumentality to stimulate the economy.

“The Commission would not relent in monitoring developments in the sector and prosecute illegal foreign exchange traders disrupting the forex market.

“We are trying to stabilize the foreign exchange market and stimulate growth in the economy. To this effect, companies and entities operating to destroy the economy won’t be allowed to have their ways”, he said.