The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to local government chairmen across the country, emphasizing that they are not immune to prosecution and will be held accountable for their financial dealings while in office.
Olukoyede made this statement on Wednesday through Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity. He stressed that the commission will not wait until the end of their tenure before taking action against any official found guilty of financial misconduct.
“Local government chairmen do not have immunity, and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you,” he warned.
According to him, despite the substantial resources allocated to local governments, their impact is rarely felt by the people. Instead of fostering development, many councils have become “mere caricatures” that exist only in name.
To ensure transparency and accountability, Olukoyede revealed that the EFCC has established a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) Department, which will monitor the management of public funds at the local government level. He further disclosed that officials from this department would soon begin visiting local government councils in Gombe State to assess how allocations from the Federation Account are being utilized.
“The EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to check how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams,” he added, reinforcing the commission’s commitment to tackling corruption at all levels of governance.
The anti-graft agency’s latest move signals a renewed effort to curb financial mismanagement and ensure that funds meant for grassroots development are effectively utilized for the benefit of the people.
