The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede says the anti-graft war that he is leading is not focused only on internet fraudsters.
Olukoyede, who spoke in Abuja on Sunday at an anti-corruption concert, said no one would be spared, not even mega thieves such as corrupt ex-governors.
The EFCC boss assured Nigerians that the commission’s fight would continue to be broad-based, holistic and unsparing of anyone linked with any form of economic and financial crimes.
‘’We will not spare anyone. We will not spare the mega thieves. As we are doing the mega, we will also do those at the lower end,” he said.
“In the last two months, we have arranged two former governors. So, it is not true that we are only focused on internet fraudsters. Of course, internet fraud is bad enough but our focus is on every form of economic and financial crimes.”
He cautioned youths against indulgence in internet-related offences, pointing out that the consequences of being convicted for such crimes are grave.
“Youths need to know that being ex-convicts has career limitations. Ex-convicts can’t run for public offices, the stigma alone is even terrible. So, I urge you to avoid internet crimes by all means. Your future is more important than any immediate gains from such crimes,” he said.
He further charged youths to embrace hard work and diligence, stressing that “the path of success is the path of hard work and dignity. There is dignity in labour. Let’s come together. All of us must come together and agree that corruption is evil. Don’t’ leave the fight to EFCC alone”
In his charge to the youths at the concert, Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, enjoined youths across the country to support the EFCC in its crusade against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
“Nigeria is supposed to have progressed more than this. We will not allow corrupt people to destroy our future, that is why we need to come together and fight this evil in our society, that is why we need to continuously run this campaign because I am convinced that everyone of us have a part to play, without you, there is little or nothing EFCC can do. Let’s show the world that young Nigerian people are determined to change the narrative,” he said.
