By Cordelia Akueche
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has described the fight against corruption and financial crimes as a collective responsibility, saying no society can achieve sustainable development under the weight of such crimes.
Soludo stated this on Oct. 2, while delivering the keynote address at the commissioning of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Directorate in Awka. The facility, located at Udoka Estate, was commissioned on behalf of President Bola Tinubu by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and will serve Anambra and Imo states.
Soludo welcomed the establishment of the directorate, commending the EFCC for decentralising its operations and bringing the fight against financial crimes closer to the grassroots. “Fighting crime is everybody’s business, and the work of the EFCC is pivotal for our national development,” he said.
The governor recalled his experience with the EFCC after leaving office as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, saying he honoured an invitation from the commission during an investigation involving the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company. He said he cooperated with the investigation until its conclusion.
Soludo stressed that people deserved to know the outcome of investigations, adding, “People deserve to know the end of every investigation, and we will help you produce results for our people.”
Abbas reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to creating an enabling environment for anti corruption agencies to discharge their responsibilities effectively. He also urged the governments of Anambra and Imo to protect the facility.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma commended the EFCC for expanding its operational reach, while the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Financial Crimes, Sen. Emmanuel Udende, and his House counterpart, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, pledged legislative support for the commission.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, called for greater emphasis on preventive measures, including the integration of anti corruption education into the primary school curriculum.
EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, said the Awka directorate was established to expand the commission’s institutional presence, improve access to justice and protect legitimate economic activities in Anambra and Imo.
Olukoyede said the commission was increasingly focusing on prevention, including monitoring Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) releases to safeguard public funds from diversion.
He urged communities to support whistleblowing, adding that the new directorate would strengthen intelligence gathering, investigation and prosecution of financial crimes in the South-East.
Cordelia Akueche is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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