EFCC strengthens collaboration with media, CSOs to tackle economic, financial crimes

Olanipekun Olukoyede, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said that the anti-graft agency is committed to deepening synergy with the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), as part of a strategy to combat rising economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

Olukoyede made this disclosure at a sensitisation workshop for Civil Society Organisations and the media, held in Kano on Thursday.

Speaking through Sa’ ad Hanaf, acting zonal director, Kano Zonal Directorate of the agency, Olukoyede said the measure was necessary as the fight against corruption is a collective national endeavour that requires synergy, trust and shared intelligence.

“What we aim to achieve from this workshop is to build and deepen a stronger, more collaborative relationship between the EFCC and your esteemed organisations.

“Our fight against corruption is not a solo mission; it is a collective national endeavour that requires synergy, trust, and shared intelligence,” Olukoyede said.

According to him, the choice of CSOs and Journalists is both deliberate and strategic as they are not merely observers in the socio-economic landscape of our nation.

“You are critical drivers of change. CSOs serve as the conscience of society and a vital bridge between the government and the citizenry. Journalists, on the other hand, wield the powerful pen that shapes public opinion, holds power accountable, and illuminates the dark corners where corruption often thrives. Together, you are indispensable allies in the fight to safeguard our economy and our collective future,” the EFCC chairman stated.

He explained that the workshop aimed to educate and inform participants on understanding cryptocurrency fraud and other emerging cyber and financial crimes, as well as to provide crucial guidance on the intricacies of prosecuting financial crimes–challenges we face and how to come together and find a better way forward to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes, including corruption.

Olukoyede noted that the world is witnessing a dramatic shift from traditional schemes to sophisticated cyber-enabled fraud, hence the need to enlighten participants on the burgeoning threats of cryptocurrency fraud and other cyber-criminal activities.

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He added that the workshop was also designed to enhance the understanding of CSOs and journalists on the legal and procedural intricacies of prosecuting financial crimes.

“The workshop will also go a long way in fostering a strategic partnership between the EFCC, CSOs, and the media in promoting a preventative and citizen-driven approach to combating corruption,“ he added.

He stressed the need to enlighten the participants on the world of emerging threats, particularly cryptocurrency fraud, equipping them with the knowledge to understand and report on these modern crimes.

The workshop was attended by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Kano State Council, and members of various Civil Society Organisations operating in the state.