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Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kayode Olukoyejo, has stressed the importance of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
He said without the contribution of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption, nothing significant would have been achieved.
Olukoyejo, therefore, advised Nigerians to “take this obligation more seriously,” adding that “we cannot win the war on corruption through lip service, emotional outbursts or mere mob movements.”
However, he warned that every report must be directed to the truth and evidence.
Olukoyejo added: “Apart from terrorism, corruption is the deadliest scourge of humanity in every region of the world.”
Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, Olukoyejo warned that false statements and misleading intelligence would be punished.
“We need commitment, passion, consistency and credibility of intelligence. Every report must point to the truth and evidence. False accusations and misleading intelligence will not be punished,” said Harry Elin, the Coordinator of Ilorin Area Command, who spoke on behalf of Olukayode in his keynote address on the 2024 Africa Anti-Corruption Day on Thursday.
He added: “Across the world, corruption has been the bane of local and global development.
“Because corruption is pervasive and recurrent, its damage to genuine development efforts cannot be measured through accurate statistics or quantitative assessments.
“Given the dangers and threats corruption poses to our very survival, individuals, communities, businesses and the world at large must come together to tackle corruption head on. One way to do this is through whistleblowing initiatives.”
He described whistleblowers as drivers of the fight against corruption and said that through their efforts, anti-corruption agencies can be alerted to environmental damage that should be investigated.
He said: “Alerts can be sent out through verbal and non-verbal channels. At the EFCC, the Eagle Eye application is a full-fledged corruption reporting device that generates intelligence that the commission can use.
“A remarkable fact about whistleblowing is that it reflects the determination and motivation to fight corruption. In this regard, any effort is worthwhile.
“While whistleblowers can receive generous rewards, the most important thing is to push the wheels of anti-corruption forward.”
He urged whistleblowers to input the device through which one can send mails, make calls or personally visit any EFCC command across the country to expose the dark practices around us.
“We also assure every whistleblower of protection. The EFCC will never betray you,” he said.
Olukoyejo insisted that corruption affects all Nigerians, adding that online scammers pose as much danger to our collective progress as those who loot our national treasury.
“We should not encourage their evil ways through indifference, silence or non-commitment. Exposing corruption is our chance to fight it. Let us embrace it fully,” he urged.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Kwara State (represented by the Olusein of Isanluisin), Oba Solomon Oloyede, urged the committee to extend the awareness to all local governments and other communities because the scourge of corruption is everywhere.
“This anti-corruption awareness campaign should not be limited to this, it should be extended to all local governments, all schools and even communities because corruption is everywhere,” the monarch said.
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