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Change Negative Narrative About EFCC Being Used For Settling Political Scores- Reps

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2 years ago

November 12, 2024

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………Ask Anti Graft Agency To Fight Financial Crimes Within Established Laws

.
……My Staff Are Poorly Paid, EFCC

…., States Why Fight Against Yahoo Boys Fierce

The House of Representatives has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to purge itself from the negative impression that its being used to settle political scores and concentrate fighting financial and economic crimes within established laws.

The House handed the advise on Tuesday through the Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes Honorable Ginger Onwusibe who led members of the committee on the 2024 oversight exercise on the commission.

The oversight covered extensive facility tour of departments and critical operational units of the antigraft agency.

In his terse remarks, Hon. Onwusibe challenged the agency to improve its operational activities in combating economic and financial crimes by complying with its 2004 Establishment Act and other relevant applicable laws like the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: Terrorism ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: The Proceeds of Crime Act. 2022, as well as other statutes, that compels it to carry out these roles transparently with accountability and show that the negative maxim being peddled in some quarters that the agency is often being used for settling political scores is incorrect .

The committee assured that it will collaborate with the commission to actualize its mandate by enacting new laws or amending old ones and as well providing budgetary interventions, if it must strive tirelessly to be on top of its challenges

The House urged the agency to collaborate with sister agencies and desist from keeping suspects as- awaiting ‘trial in correctional centres nationwide

“At this point let me add that a recent visit to the Maximun and Minimun Correctional centres in Kirikiri Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied”

” It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation and the Judiciary to improve and ensure the administration of justice works and is efficiently delivered to the victims”

The House warned the agency to purge itself of rotten eggs in order to fight economic and financial crimes frontally, thereby stimulating the Nigerian economy

It also urged EFCC to focus properly on its mandate.

” The issue of appropriate and proper focusing on the mandate of the EFCC must relentlessly be on the front burner:

“Orders from competent courts , arrest and debt recovery must be pursued religiously” the House cautioned

But on its side, the antigraft agency said it has not deviated from its focus but rather working hard and fighting financial and economic crimes as enunciated in its mandate.

Chairman of the agency , Ola Olukeyede told his guest in his remarks during the oversight visit that the commission was doing much to fight financial and economic crimes and stimulate the Nigerian economy

He said so far that the agency has recovered over N250bn cash, tens of million of Dollars and other foreign currencies, with over 3000 convictions: 17000 petitions while also investigating over 20000,with about 4000 fresh cases , all being handled by a misery number of staff strenght

He noted that its priority is to improve the country’s image and stimulate its economy, such that there could be improvement in foregin direct investments and stimulation of the local economy.
Olukeyede however, argued that the agency needed more staff strenght, funding , better renumeration for staff because they were poorly paid. He also emphasised on modern day technology to fight the ever dynamic cyber criminals

According to the EFCC boss, it was important to give more salary to EFCC staff and deploy modern technology to fight emerging cyber crime dynamism . He expalined that the agency has increased efforts to fight Yahoo, yahhoo, boys because of their ability to crumble any economy within a twinkle of an eye

According to him, the agency was expanding its drag net to focus on ministries, departments and agencies infrastructural projects. ” “Go to MDAs and see their budget implementstion. It is not up to 20%”

“We want to ensure 50% infrastructural development” the anti graft boss announced, insisting that it would henceforth encourage monitoring of project implementation which was an aspect of preventing financial crimes

He said the agency has dismissed lots of erring staff, and will continue to dismiss and even prosecute them going forward.

Olukeyede disclosed that it had designed a template on staff integrity, using the Gift- Policy model

.” It is not every thankful gift we should collect” the EFCC boss warned

” I am advocating for more welfare improvement, better welfare, he said.

“We will do more recoveries, more convictions, but we need more resources to do our work, maintaining that, that was his stand on ethics and integrity .

Olokeyede’s demand for more salary wage for staff of the commission, is seen as an incentive to boost welfare and morale to fight financial crimes to standstill.

He stated that there was the utmost need to increase salaries of staff of the commission

The EFCC boss who spoke on his stewardship in the last one year, further added that it increased the war against Yahoo- Yahoo boys because of the consequences of their nefarious acts which could crumble a nation’s economy in a jiffy.

He argued that more technology was required to fight financial crimes.

For instance he explained that it was a common scenario then for thieves and armed robbers to attack and break into banks with guns and Dynamites

” But it is the same common and more easier scenario and task now to have Yahoo-Yahoo boys and bank thieves attack banks with technology in the comfort of their homes or hideouts”

“So we need technology and we also need to increase our fight against these Yahoo boys who can dismantle any economy within a twinkle of an eye

He called on the national Assembly to improve and increase its finances because fighting Financial crimes was a herculean task that requires adequate funding

Olokeyede who apparently was responding to criticisms of the commission’s over concentration on Cyber crimes/ thieves, perpetrated by Yahoo boys, said he has made tremendous impact in enforcement, investigation and conviction with an outstanding record convictions between October 2023 when he was appointed till date

Related Topics:EFCC Negative Political Scores Reps

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Former Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello Disqualified From APC Senatorial Primaries Over Failure To Appear Before Screening Panel

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Ex- Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was not cleared to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries after reportedly failing to appear before the party’s screening panel.

This is based on a list of screened APC senatorial aspirants from Kogi State, which emanated from the Kogi State Secretariat of the ruling party and was obtained.

Bello is currently facing two separate cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

One of the cases involves alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion in a 19-count charge.

The EFCC accused the former governor and others of criminal breach of trust and laundering funds allegedly diverted from the Kogi State treasury through multiple private accounts and luxury property acquisitions in Nigeria and Dubai.

The matter is being heard before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The trial has featured testimonies from several high-profile witnesses, including bank officials, who reportedly spoke about structured cash deposits allegedly designed to evade financial reporting requirements.

Bello is also facing a separate 16-count charge involving alleged fraud and breach of trust amounting to N110.4 billion.

In the second case, the EFCC accused Bello and two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, of diverting public funds belonging to Kogi State.

Party sources familiar with the screening process told SaharaReporters that the former governor deliberately stayed away from the exercise to avoid answering questions relating to the criminal allegations against him.

One of the APC sources in the state told SaharaReporters, “Yahaya Bello was not cleared by the APC. He didn’t participate in the screening exercise. He was disqualified.”

Another source said, “APC Kogi senatorial screening report shows Yahaya Bello isn’t cleared. This is because he didn’t want to be judged by question 7 in the APC senatorial form which has to do with the disclosure of ongoing criminal investigations. He is not cleared because of that.”

The source added, “The EFCC had laid ambush for him at the party secretariat in case he came for the screening, hence, he ran to Lagos.”

Bello, who is aspiring for Kogi Central Senatorial District, has been at the centre of multiple corruption allegations and ongoing legal battles involving alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.

Bello’s bid for the APC ticket for the Kogi Central Senatorial District has remained controversial due to his ongoing corruption trial and the political tensions surrounding his return to elective politics.

His legal troubles have drawn national attention after the EFCC declared him wanted in 2024 following repeated controversies over his arraignment and allegations that he was being shielded from arrest.

The former governor eventually appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Despite the ongoing trial, Bello’s ambition to represent Kogi Central in the Senate sparked criticism from opposition figures, civil society groups, and some members within the APC who argued that his candidacy could damage the party’s image ahead of the elections.

Critics have also questioned the morality of allowing a politician facing high-profile corruption charges to contest for public office while his trial remains unresolved.

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BREAKING: Senator Narrowly Escapes Death As Gunshots Rock APC Primaries

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Gunshots disrupted the senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo Central Senatorial District on Monday following the invasion of some voting centres by suspected political thugs.

The incident occurred in parts of Ondo State, particularly at Ward 5, Okelisa, Amudipe Street, Akure, where hoodlums reportedly attacked supporters of Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire.

Adegbomire, who is seeking the APC senatorial ticket, reportedly escaped unhurt after his vehicle came under gun attack during the chaos.

The suspected thugs were alleged to be loyal to one of the aspirants participating in the primary election.

Witnesses said the assailants fired several gunshots into the air and also shot at the senator’s vehicle before security operatives hurriedly evacuated him from the scene.

The development caused panic in the area as journalists covering the exercise, traders, and pupils of Ebenezer Primary School fled for safety.

The attackers were also said to have wielded machetes while assaulting voters and disrupting the counting process at the ward.

Speaking with journalists after the incident, Adegbomire alleged that the primary election was deliberately sabotaged.

The senator claimed the exercise appeared to be favouring him before the disruption occurred, alleging that thugs were deployed to prevent his supporters from participating in the process.

According to him, voting had commenced at his ward with supporters lining up behind their preferred aspirants before the violence erupted.

He explained that while the counting process was ongoing, the attackers stormed the venue, fired gunshots, attacked people with machetes, and disrupted the exercise.

Adegbomire further alleged that similar incidents were recorded in other parts of the senatorial district, claiming that some voters believed to be supporting him were prevented from accessing polling venues.

He also accused the perpetrators of using intimidation and violence to influence the outcome of the exercise.

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Just in: Ex-Reps member, Ogbeide-Ihama defeats serving Senator Imasuen, Pastor Ize- Iyamu Edo APC Senate primaries

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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A popular former member of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Omorgie Ogbeide-Ihama has floored a serving Senator, Ned Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in Edo South Senatorial District All Progressives Congress APC primaries.

Ogbeide-Ihama, an Engineer who vied into politics two decades ago has a reputation of beating his political rivals seamlessly since 2015.

This he has exhibited again in the Edo South Senatorial District primaries flooring two political heavyweights in one swipe.

He was a two-term member of the HoR 2015-2023

Local Government Areas results:

Oredo: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,950

Imasuen: 1,974

Ize-Iyamu: 986

Ohuonmde: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 2,626

Imasuen: 1,314

Ize-Iyamu: , 657

Ovia North East: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,514

Imasuen: 1,759