Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pointed fingers at foreign countries, accusing them of fostering criminal activities by harboring stolen Nigerian money and assets within their borders.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 13, during the 10th session of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Atlanta, US, Olukoyede emphasized the necessity of cooperation from nations hosting these ill-gotten gains.
“We need the cooperation of all the countries that are custodians or in charge of warehousing all these stolen assets from Africa.
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It has become extremely important for us to see you as our collaborators, as countries that support us in the fight against corruption,” Olukoyede stated.
Describing corruption as a transnational crime, he highlighted the indirect encouragement provided to perpetrators when foreign nations retain these assets.
Olukoyede stressed the interconnectedness of financial crimes on a global scale, emphasizing that such practices impact not just Africa but the international community as a whole.
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Moreover, Olukoyede reiterated the significance of global cooperation in supporting Nigeria’s efforts to reclaim these assets, emphasizing that cooperation from foreign nations is crucial. He emphasized that support in recovering assets traced to foreign jurisdictions would be a marker of friendship and solidarity in combating financial crimes.
Olukoyede’s remarks underscore the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and repatriate illicitly obtained assets. The call for collaboration from foreign nations resonates with Nigeria’s determination to combat financial crimes and reclaim assets that rightfully belong to the country.