CHRISTIAN ABURIME
The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has declared that the fight against corruption and financial crimes must be seen as a collective responsibility, stressing that no society can progress under the weight of economic perversion.
Governor Soludo made these remarks as the Keynote Speaker during the official commissioning of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Awka Zonal Directorate at Udoka Estate, Awka.
Expressing excitement at hosting the anti-graft agency’s new operational hub, Governor Soludo commended the EFCC for decentralizing its functions to the grassroots, drawing a personal experience after he left office as Central Bank Governor.
“We are excited to host this EFCC office in Awka. You are beginning to drill down the function of fighting crimes to the grassroots. Fighting crime is everybody’s business, and the work of the EFCC is pivotal for our national development.
In a society with pervasive economic and financial crimes, there can be no forwardness—it is the foundation.
Nobody who earns legitimate money throws it around; unfortunately, the young ones want to behave like that without earning any income. All Nigerians, including Anambra, strongly support the EFCC. On one ocassion, i was given one month invitation notice by EFCC during their investigation of of the Minting Company. I honoured the invitation and followed through with the investigation until it was eventually concluded. People deserve to know the end of every investigation, and we will help you produce results for our people.”
The commissioning was performed on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to provide the necessary environment for anti-corruption agencies to thrive.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for expanding financial room for subnationals. He praised the decentralization of EFCC operations and noted that the agency’s modern operational approach now reflects a commendable human face.
Senator Emmanuel Udende (Chairman, Senate Committee on Financial Crimes) and Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe (Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes) reiterated full legislative backing for the commission’s operations.
Igwe Chidubem Iweka, Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, advocated for long-term preventive measures, including integrating anti-corruption courses into primary school curricula and administering traditional oaths of office for public officials.
In his address, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede, noted that the creation of the Awka Directorate—alongside recent expansions in Ekiti and Katsina states—aims to broaden institutional presence, expand access to justice, and protect legitimate economic activities.
He stated that EFCC is expanding focus toward prevention by, among other things, monitoring Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) releases to safeguard public funds before theft occurs, calling on communities to make whistleblowing a norm and maintain a conscious watch over financial transactions.
Reassuring citizens that EFCC officers are deployed strictly to enforce the law within its legal limits, not to oppress the public, the EFCC boss revealed that the new Awka Zonal Directorate is expected to significantly boost intelligence gathering, accelerate financial crime prosecutions, safeguard public revenues, and strengthen investor confidence across Anambra and Imo States and the wider South-East region.
The new Directorate office complex will also cater for Imo State.