The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has charged graduating cadets of Regular Course 8 of the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC) to take ownership of the fight against corruption, describing it as an existential battle that must be won to secure the nation’s future.
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‎Olukoyede gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled “The Fight Against Corruption: The Role of the Nigeria Police Force” to the cadets.
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‎The Chairman, who was represented by the Acting Zonal Director of the Kano Zonal Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, noted that the Nigeria Police Force occupies a critical position in the anti-corruption architecture due to its proximity to the grassroots, while the EFCC serves as the leading agency for investigation, prosecution, asset recovery and prevention of economic and financial crimes.
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‎He stressed that officers cannot effectively fight corruption unless they are above reproach, warning against extortion and other administrative and ethical compromises that have been normalized.
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‎”Any officer who wishes to fight corruption must first be above reproach. Extortion is only one face of corruption. There are many administrative and ethical compromises that have been normalized, but they are equally corrosive. As law enforcement officers, we must shun all forms of corrupt practices, including the compromise of investigations, falsification of police diaries, and the perversion of justice for pecuniary benefits,” he said.
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‎Citing Section 104 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 and the Police Code of Conduct, Olukoyede reminded the cadets that corrupt practices constitute severe misconduct, attracting outright dismissal and criminal prosecution.
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‎He warned that failure to defeat corruption would lead to stalled economic growth, rising unemployment, worsening insecurity and a compromised future for coming generations, while a corruption-free Nigeria would enjoy positive global perception, increased Foreign Direct Investment and improved socio-economic well-being.
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‎The EFCC Chairman also detailed the Commission’s multifaceted approach to the fight, including prosecution, asset tracing and recovery, citing significant recoveries of real estate, large sums of local and foreign currencies and gold bars returned to the Federal Government.
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‎He urged the cadets to apply their training, protect human rights, prioritize service over personal desires and maintain spiritual grounding, asking, “What are you willing to contribute to this fight? Remember, if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us.”
Olukoyede Charges Police Academy Cadets To Take Ownership Of Anti-Corruption Fight
