The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to local government (LG) chairmen across Nigeria, emphasizing that they are not immune to investigation or prosecution for corruption.
Speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit on Wednesday, Olukoyede made it clear that the anti-graft agency will not hesitate to take action against any chairperson involved in fraudulent activities, regardless of their tenure.
“No local government chairman is immune, and we will not wait until the end of your tenure to take action,” Olukoyede stated, stressing the importance of accountability in managing local government resources.
His comments came amid growing concerns about the misuse of public funds meant to drive development at the grassroots level.
The EFCC Chairman criticized the ineffective management of resources at the local government level, noting that despite the increased allocation from the federation account, the impact of these funds on local communities is hardly felt.
“Instead of councils becoming catalysts of growth, they have become caricatures, existing only in name,” he said.
Olukoyede also called for local government chairpersons to establish compliance units to oversee the appropriate use of resources and the execution of projects.
He pointed out that the EFCC has set up a fraud risk assessment and control (FRAC) department specifically tasked with monitoring the management of the increased funds.
“EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to monitor how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams,” Olukoyede warned.
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