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Stop Supporting Corruption – EFCC Boss Olukoyede Tells CSOs
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, across the country to distance themselves from corrupt elements who advance the cause of bad governance with no consideration for the plight of Nigerians bearing the brunt of corrupt practices.
He gave this charge in Abuja on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 when he received in audience, executives of the Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks led by the Chairman, Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya.
According to the EFCC boss, “whatever that is not expedient should be abhorred. It is appalling to see Civil Society Organisations veer off their mandate and be supporting bad governance. There are instances where some state governments deliberately set up and fund Civil Society Organisations to attack agencies set up to enforce anti-corruption laws”, he said.
Olukoyede frowned at the tendencies of some CSOs championing ill-motivated causes, especially offering defences to individuals and groups indicted for corruption. “Please, let them know that such tendencies are against progress and development of the nation. Their platforms are not meant for such engagements”, he said.
He said it was very important for actors in the civil society space to understand that their mandate required them to play very critical roles in the development of the society. “The CSOs are critical to the fight against economic and financial crimes. Some of the high -profile cases the Commission has prosecuted was made possible by the efforts of some of the promoters of these CSOs.
They are even playing the roles of prosecution witnesses in support of anti-graft agencies. That is why within six months of my appointment, I have met with the coalition of CSOs twice. To me, we cannot do it all alone. We surely need to collaborate to achieve the mandate”, he said.
The Chairman specifically commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking crucial measures on the issue of Consumer Credit and Students’ Loan Scheme, which he said have great propensity of curbing corruption. “50 percent of my job would have been done by the time these policies come on stream. Imagine workers getting car loans and mortgage loans at 3, 4 and 5 percent to be repaid in the next 30 years. It will reduce corruption to the barest minimum”, he said.
Earlier, Waiya described the Conference as a regional network of non-governmental, non-partisan, not for profit, non-ethnic and non-religious platform, with the sole objective of advocating for the best practices of democracy, accountable governance and increased development of Northern Nigeria and beyond through policy advocacy, collaboration and partnership.
He said the group brought together various civil society networks operating in the Nineteen Northern States and FCT, under a common umbrella, with a clear focus of promoting synergy among different states-based networks, to collectively aid in achieving socio-economic, political, infrastructural and sustainable development in the region and Nigeria at large.
He specifically commended Olukoyede for his sterling fight against Naira abuse and noticeable paradigm shift in the entire war against economic and financial crimes. “We want to commend you for your bold moves in moving the anti-corruption fight forward”, he said. He called for greater penetration of the grassroots to ensure that false narratives and campaigns against the Commission are neutralized.
He called for closer collaboration with the EFCC to ensure optimal results in the fight against corruption.
…call for suspension of digital unit, cancellation of exams over widespread disruptions
By Gloria Ikibah
Lawmakers representing the South East in the House of Representatives have called for the immediate step-down of the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, citing severe lapses in the recent administration of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The caucus, under the leadership of Rep. Igariwey Enwo, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, expressed outrage over what they termed a systemic breakdown that affected nearly 380,000 candidates, many of whom must now retake the test.
The lawmakers noted that the five South Eastern states were among the hardest hit.
The caucus further criticised the handling of the issue, pointing to inadequate public communication, exam rescheduling that clashed with WAEC timetables, and the short notice provided to affected students.
The lawmakersemphasised that the mishandling has placed avoidable stress on students and their families.
By Francesca Hangeior
The head of the World Health Organization on Monday urged countries to adopt this week the Pandemic Agreement, aimed at preventing a repeat of the Covid-19 crisis.
WHO member states are holding their annual World Health Assembly, a gathering of the UN health agency’s decision-making body.
“At this assembly, member states will consider, and hopefully adopt, the WHO Pandemic Agreement,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his opening address to the gathering in Geneva.
“This is truly a historic moment.”
After more than three years of negotiations, the text of the agreement was finalised by consensus last month.
The United States pulled out of the talks, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to trigger the country’s one-year withdrawal process to leave the WHO.
“Even in the middle of crisis, and in the face of significant opposition, you worked tirelessly, you never gave up, and you reached your goal,” said Tedros.
The hard-fought consensus spurred “joy, triumph, relief, exhaustion,” he said.
“I look forward to your adoption of the agreement.”
The agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response is expected to be adopted by the assembly on Tuesday.
It aims to better detect and combat pandemics by focusing on greater international coordination and surveillance, and more equitable access to vaccines and treatments.
The negotiations grew tense amid disagreements between wealthy and developing countries, with the latter feeling cut off from access to vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The agreement faced opposition from those who thought it would encroach on state sovereignty.
Countries have until May 2026 to thrash out the details of the agreement’s Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism.
The PABS mechanism deals with sharing access to pathogens with pandemic potential, and the sharing of benefits derived from them: vaccines, tests and treatments.
Once the PABS system is finalised, the agreement can then be ratified. Sixty ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force.
By Francesca Hangeior
At least one person has died while 61 others were said to have been rescued after an overloaded migrant boat disintegrated in the English Channel during an attempted crossing overnight, according to French maritime authorities, Sky News reported on Monday.
The Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea confirmed the vessel had collapsed in the water, prompting a major rescue operation involving both French and British emergency services.
Among the rescued were a mother and her child, both suffering from hypothermia. They were airlifted to the hospital by helicopter. The rest of the survivors were transferred to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, south of Calais.
The French rescue tug Abeille Normandie launched three speedboats to retrieve 50 people from the water.
An additional 11 were rescued by British crews—two by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and nine by the UK Border Force vessel Ranger. All were eventually brought aboard the French tug.
A French Navy helicopter later spotted an unconscious person in the sea. The individual was retrieved by the RNLI and taken to the Abeille Normandie, where they were declared dead by the medical team onboard.
The United Kingdom government confirmed the fatality and expressed condolences. “We can confirm there has been a tragic incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters, which has resulted in the loss of one life.
“This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected,” a spokesperson said, adding that efforts to prevent human smuggling continue.
The incident occurred amid a surge in Channel crossings. Over 12,000 people have arrived in the UK by small boats this year, including more than 1,100 in the past week alone.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recently vowed to dismantle smuggling networks, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned of growing immigration pressures and pledged to reduce net migration by 2029.
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