By Peter Adelowo
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a strong warning to local government chairpersons, emphasizing that they have no immunity from prosecution and will be held accountable for mismanaging public funds.
Speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit on Wednesday, Olukoyede urged council leaders to handle financial resources responsibly, making it clear that the EFCC will not wait until the end of their tenure before initiating investigations into corruption cases.
“Local government chairmen do not have immunity, and we will not postpone action until after your tenure,” he stated.
Expressing concern over poor governance at the local level, the EFCC chairman criticized the lack of visible development despite substantial financial allocations.
He described many local councils as existing in name only, with little impact on their communities.
“The people do not see the benefits of the funds allocated for their development. Instead of driving progress, many councils remain ineffective and symbolic,” he remarked.
To strengthen oversight, Olukoyede announced the establishment of a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department within the EFCC. He also pushed for the creation of compliance units to monitor the proper utilization of funds and ensure rural development projects are carried out efficiently.
“The EFCC will be conducting surprise inspections to track how public funds are being used. Don’t be surprised if we appear in the evening—or even in your dreams,” he cautioned.
