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Nigeria’s system allows fraud to flourish – EFCC boss
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has said “Nigerians are good people”, but the problem is that the country operates “a system that allows fraud to flourish.”
This is as Olukoyede stressed the need for public officeholders to uphold transparency and accountability in the conduct of affairs in the country.
Olukoyede, who spoke when a delegation of the NDDC management, led by its Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, paid him a courtesy visit at the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja, said that he was impressed by the “Rewind to Rebirth” initiative of the Commission.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday by the NDDC Corporate Affairs Director, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, sent to newsmen.
The statement quoted the EFCC chairman, saying, “The five minutes of interaction with the MD left me with a different perception of NDDC. I want to congratulate and also thank you for your readiness and commitment to bring change. Maybe, we will begin to see an NDDC that is a symbol of pride, accountability, transparency and able to deliver on its mandate.
“That is what the NDDC should stand for and I want to thank you for bringing that to the table. From his presentation, you can see that he is somebody who is ready to bring a change, and that is the exact thing that we stand for in EFCC.
“It is possible for us to build a system of accountability, transparency and integrity in Nigeria.”
Olukoyede used the occasion to urge all public officeholders to uphold probity, transparency and accountability in the management of the finances they hold in trust for the public knowing that a day of reckoning would come.
He said: “Always have it at the back of your mind that while you are on this side today, you might be on the other side tomorrow. Let it be the guiding principle for those in positions of trust in everything they do.
“That has always been my own guiding principle because you will not be there forever. You can protect certain things today, but if you leave, you will discover that the person closest to you, maybe someone who benefitted from you, would be the one to expose you.”
He also said, “Fundamentally, Nigerians are good people. The only problem that we have is the system that we operate; a system that allows fraud to flourish. But if you take the same Nigerian who is corrupt in our system to an environment with strict regulatory compliance and structures, you will discover that he will behave.”
The EFCC boss assured that the Commission would continue to do its job with determination and courage, noting: “We are not going to compromise. We have been called names and maligned but we are resolute. We are moving forward because somebody has to do this job and we will do it and deliver.
“I told Nigerians upon my assumption of office that we are going to use the instrumentality of the anti-corruption fight to build the economy and ensure good governance.”
Olukoyede assured that the EFCC would continue to assist the NDDC to achieve its mandate.
“We have been working with you to make recoveries, we will continue to do more.
“The collaboration is something we need to take to the next level, and with what you have put on the table I think we are ready to work with you to strengthen your systems and processes and to take the NDDC to the next level,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ofbuku, explained that the visit to EFCC headquarters was in appreciation of the financial recoveries the Commission made on behalf of the NDDC, which he said had helped in developing the Niger Delta region.
He said: “We want, as a management, to thank the EFCC for supporting the NDDC to make the recoveries that have helped the region and the Commission. Mr Chairman, this is to let you know that the NDDC is investing the recoveries in projects.
“At a point, we will invite the EFCC to join us in commissioning some of those projects. It will be a sign that the recoveries made by the EFCC are used to support the development of the Niger Delta.”
Ogbuku said further: “Apart from thanking you, we also came to let you know what the NDDC has been doing so far. Many people had a very dark impression of the NDDC but we thought that we should look forward and not backward.
“So, we came up with the policy of rewind to rebirth, because we just have to go back a little to see where we started and what we needed to do in future. We went back to our books and interacted with previous management to know where things went wrong. One of the areas that we have to rebirth the NDDC was in the area of transparency.”
He sued for enhanced collaboration between NDDC and EFCC, observing: “We believe that further collaboration with the EFCC in the area of technical support will further strengthen us as a Commission and guide us in our operations. I also want to use this opportunity to plead with Mr Chairman that before our corporate governance performances and SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) are passed, you should delegate some of your officers to look at the documents and probably make your input in areas where you think you can further contribute in strengthening us as an organisation.”
He also pleaded for further technical support in the area of training finance staff of the NDDC in financial management.
The Kano State government has allegedly directed each of the 44 local government areas in the state to contribute N15,227,272.72, totalling N670m to the Kano Emirate Council.
The amount is for the repairs and purchase of vehicles for the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The directive, contained in a memo from the Ministry of Local Government, with reference number MLG/INSP/LGD/166T/6, dated March 25, 2025, was addressed to all the local government chairmen.
A palace official, who spoke to The PUNCH on conditiion of anonymity for lack of authorisation, confirmed the authenticity of the memo.
“The company has already been contacted, and plans are in motion to bring in the vehicles and begin the restoration of the vintage ones,” the source disclosed.
According to the memo signed by the Director of Local Government Inspection, Abubakar S. Dabo, on behalf of the Commissioner for Local Government, the approved amount would be deducted from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair two vehicles and supply four new vehicles to the Emirate Council.
The letter, with the caption, “Conveyance of Approval for the Release of Funds,” sighted by The PUNCH read: “I am directed to convey government’s approval for the release of the aggregate sum of N670,000,000.00 at the rate of N15,227,272.72 per LGA from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair 2 No. vehicles and supply 4 No. vehicles to the Kano Emirate Council through Sottom Snergy Resources Ltd as per below:
“Complete refurbishing of engine, body and interior of 1993 Fleetwood Cadillac limousine at N25 million and complete refurbishing and rebuilding of both engine, interior and complete body for Daimler D5 420 1998 at N25m.”
The new vehicles to be purchased are one Toyota Hilux pickup 2024 model at N98 million, one Toyota Hiace Bus at N98 million, one Toyota Land Cruiser VXR full option 2024 model at N268 million and one Prado 2024 model at N156m.”
The letter, which was also copied to the Auditor General, Local Government Audit, Kano State and all Zonal Inspectors, Ministry for Local Government, Kano State, directed them to ensure that all due procedures were strictly adhered to.
Reacting, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa, slammed the government for approving the money.
He said, “How can the state government approve this huge amount of money while the residents of the state capital and some other major towns in the state are grappling with water scarcity?
“This is a complete misplacement of priority. How can you spend this money on repairs and purchase of new vehicles for the Emir while other sectors need government attention, especially education and health sectors that have suffered neglect?”
Yaryasa, who was the former coordinator of Tinubu Campaign Organisation for Kano South, called on Governor Abba Yusuf to reconsider the decision and channel the funds to areas where they would be needed most.
“Emir Sanusi does not need new posh cars. Where are the ones he has been using since returning? This is a wasteful expenditure and Kano masses will not forgive them,” he said.
The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced a sweeping reform agenda aimed at transforming the agency into a modern, efficient, and digitally driven institution, with a key policy shift being the adoption of cashless transactions across all its offices.
Starting July 1, 2025, all post office counters in the 774 local government areas of the country will stop accepting cash payments for services.
Customers will instead be required to use approved electronic channels to complete their transactions.
Announcing the development on Monday, NIPOST’s Postmaster General and CEO, Tola Odeyemi, described the move as a major milestone in the agency’s modernisation efforts.
“This is a crucial step in our modernisation journey — one that ensures safer, faster, and more transparent service delivery,” she said.
In a statement signed by NIPOST’s Director of Corporate Communications, Franklin Alao, the agency said the reforms are in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and are designed to place NIPOST at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“With these initiatives, NIPOST is positioning itself as a dynamic, technology-driven player — connecting Nigeria, delivering solutions, and improving lives,” the statement added.
Alao said, “These initiatives mark a new strategic direction for NIPOST under the vision titled, ‘Change of Renewed Hope Berths at NIPOST Shores”.
“The reforms are designed to align the agency with global best practices, the needs of Nigeria’s evolving digital economy, and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“At the heart of this transformation is NIPOST’s commitment to becoming a modern postal service — one that is driven by innovation, accountability, value, and service excellence.
“We are assuring Nigerians of a revitalised NIPOST that delivers superior service and embraces the future”.
NIPOST commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for his unwavering support and leadership.
“The organisation also commended the new Chairman of the NIPOST Board, Barr. Isaac Kekemeke for his passion and strategic foresight since his appointment, and the Postmaster General/CEO, NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, for her relentless efforts in championing institutional reforms, improving staff welfare, and driving capacity development”, Alao said.
Also, assured that NIPOST would implement a performance-based reward and recognition system to encourage excellence, alongside strict disciplinary measures to uphold organisational integrity.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The examination board in a statement said more than 75 percent of candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored below 200, according to official data released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday.
Here is how to check JAMB 2025 results using SMS
Option 1
To check the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result, all you need to do is send UTMERESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number that he/she had used for registration.
After sending the SMS, the result would be returned as a text message.
This is the only process of checking the 2024 UTME results for now.
The following are the responses you should expect:
*If a candidate uses a phone number that was not used to register, a message will be sent to him thus: ‘This phone number was not used for registration.”
* A candidate with a result will receive the message: “Dear Mr/Miss X, your result is as follows… (And the details will be provided).
* If a result is withheld, a “Result Withheld” message will be sent to the candidate.
* If a candidate belongs to the category being given the benefit of the doubt, the message to the person will be: “Result withheld pending the upload of clarifications/documents required from you.”
* If a candidate was absent, he or she would get “CANDIDATE ABSENT” as feedback
* A candidate who was ABSENT WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER also CANCELLED will be so informed.
* “Invalid Entrance into the Exam Hall” will be sent to a candidate who gained unauthorised access to the examination hall.”
Option 2:
Check Your UTME Result Online
Visit the JAMB eFacility Portal:
Go to https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/login using a web browser.
Log In:
Enter the email address and password you used during UTME registration.
Access Your Result:
Once logged in, click on the “Check UTME Results” tab. Your scores for each subject will be displayed on your dashboard.
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