The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday, lamented the intensity level of stealing money by corrupt individuals in the country. He said whenever he checks and see cases of amount stolen, he wonder how the country still exists.
In a statement by EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the chairman stated this while receiving Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, led by Chairman Mohammed Shehu, as reported by Daily Post.
Olukoyede bemoaned the misappropriation of funds he counter in some cases, adding that if Nigerians see these cases they would be troubled by how funds are illicitly redirected to private accounts just before budget deadlines.
He mentioned public corruption as the major cause of economic mismanagement. Olukoyede suggested that that if public corruption was taken out of the polity, the country would fare better than many countries of the world. He berated the practice of public officials refusing to account for their actions, calling it unacceptable.
He said, “When I look at some case files and see the humongous amount of money stolen, I wonder how we are still surviving. If you see some case files, you will weep. The way they move unspent budget allocation to private accounts in commercial banks before midnight at the end of a budget circle, you will wonder what kind of spirit drives us as Nigerians"
He underscored the need of transparency and accountability in both public and private sectors for optimal development of the country. He noted that corruption stand a challenge in the country, expressing optimism that a prevention apparatus under his leadership would ensure that corruption is combated in the country.
Olukoyede also denoted out the need for a thorough review of Nigeria's revenue generation system to prevent financial leakages. He noted that focusing on policy reforms and improving the execution of capital projects could greatly enhance the country’s governance and reduce corruption.