Track State Revenues, Adeyanju Urges EFCC

Deji Adeyanju says Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign must move beyond recovering stolen money and follow public funds from allocation to expenditure.

The lawyer and public affairs commentator was responding to figures released by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman Ola Olukoyede. The EFCC said it recovered more than 1.23 trillion naira, $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million between October 2023 and June 2026. It also said 661.32 billion naira and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during that period.

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The recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, on the achievements of the Commission deserves commendation. The figures speak for themselves.

The commission reported 10,872 convictions from 14,476 cases filed. Adeyanju praised the results and Olukoyede’s leadership, saying they showed that sustained efforts could produce tangible results in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

“The recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, on the achievements of the Commission deserves commendation,” Adeyanju said. “The figures speak for themselves.”

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These figures demonstrate that sustained efforts can produce tangible results in the fight against economic and financial crimes. The EFCC should therefore be encouraged to sustain this momentum and do even more.

He nevertheless argued that recoveries alone cannot win the corruption fight. The removal of the petrol subsidy has increased revenues and fiscal inflows received by state governments, he said, giving Nigerians a legitimate right to know how the additional resources are being used.

Adeyanju urged the EFCC, within its statutory mandate, to pay closer attention to credible allegations involving the diversion or misuse of those funds. “More importantly, the fight against corruption must extend beyond recovering yesterday’s stolen funds to preventing the diversion of tomorrow’s public resources,” he said.

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More importantly, the fight against corruption must extend beyond recovering yesterday’s stolen funds to preventing the diversion of tomorrow’s public resources.