The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has inaugurated a new office complex for the Ilorin zonal command, describing it as an attestation of the present administration’s determination to rid Nigeria of corruption.

On Thursday, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, inaugurated the facility.

Mr Fagbemi said it was the present administration’s plan, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to free Nigeria from the grips of corruption.

He noted that EFCC was pivotal to the actualisation of the dream to remove impediments to accountability in governance institutions and strengthen mechanisms and platforms by which Nigerians can hold public officers to account.

The attorney general described corruption as a malaise undermining government reform efforts at all levels, noting that it increasingly disrupts economic and social life.

“Economic and financial crimes have a negative impact on developmental programmes, the policy of the government at all levels and ultimately fuels insecurity as well as erode gains arising from reforms in the core sectors of our economy,” he said.

Mr Fagbemi called on the constituent states of the federation and the legislative and judicial arms of government to key into the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

The AGF said one of the lessons learned from implementing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, 2017-2022, was ensuring strategy is adopted and driven at the subnational level.

“It is for this reason that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has accorded high priority to the fight against corruption, economic and other financial crimes through his key policy document. Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a Better Nigeria, which is beyond providing accommodation for the personnel of the commission,” he said.

Mr Fagbemi said that EFCC is expected to continue leading the charge to trace, recover and facilitate the return of our stolen wealth and conduct its affairs strictly in accordance with the rule of law.

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, charged the agency’s operatives to be unsparing in sanitising the business environment. He urged the officers to support the country’s drive to attract foreign direct investment by tackling frauds, stressing that there will be no excuses for non-performance.

Mr Olukoyede reiterated his commitment to refocus the anti-corruption war by adopting modalities capable of stimulating economic growth and development in the overall interests of Nigerians.

(NAN)