Tinubu Applauds EFCC over 10,872 Convictions, N1.2trn Recoveries as Commission Opens Awka Directorate
AWKA, NIGERIA—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its relentless war against economic crimes, asserting that the agency’s landmark achievements have validated the trust reposed in it by the Federal Government.
The President spoke on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the commissioning of the ultra-modern EFCC Zonal Directorate in Awka, Anambra State.
Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu noted that the agency’s track record makes executive support a straightforward decision.
“Supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult,” the President stated. “The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets, and properties recovered.”
Alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda
The President emphasized that the EFCC’s strides perfectly align with the core pillars of his administration’s governance framework.
“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance,” Tinubu said. “The anti-graft agency complements this agenda, as they are focused on accountability, transparency, and the appropriate deployment of resources.”
Prevention as the New Frontier
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, reaffirmed the Commission’s paradigm shift toward preventive frameworks to choke off corruption before it manifests.
Olukoyede revealed that the new Awka Directorate will aggressively champion proactive engagement alongside its traditional enforcement duties.
“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, but it will also be high on corruption prevention,” the EFCC boss pledged. “It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies, and communities.”
By the Numbers: A 34-Month Record of Success
Highlighting the agency’s performance indicators between October 2023 and July 2026, Olukoyede rolled out unprecedented statistics detailing the scale of the EFCC’s recent operations:
- Petitions Received: 49,673
- Cases Investigated: 39,615
- Cases Filed in Court: 14,476
- Convictions Secured: 10,872
- Conviction-to-Filing Efficiency: 75.1%
The chairman said the upward trajectory continued into the current year, with the Commission recording 1,370 convictions out of 1,889 filings in the first half of 2026 alone.
Massive Financial Recoveries
The financial toll inflicted on economic saboteurs within the 34-month window includes staggering multi-currency recoveries:
- Naira: ₦1,233,612,040,411.11
- US Dollars: $684,478,457.32
- Pounds Sterling: £373,905.78
- Euros: €9,343,803.66
The EFCC Chairman attributed these milestones to radical institutional overhauls designed to modernise operational tactics and protect fundamental human rights.
Key structural reforms introduced under his stewardship include updated guidelines on arrest and bail, a comprehensive review of sting operations, and the creation of specialised units.
Among these are the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section, and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre.
Olukoyede assured Nigerians that the Commission remains fiercely committed to its mandate and will continue to optimize its processes to guarantee justice and economic stability for the nation.
