The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede has charged the new board members and management staff of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC to be guided by a sense of fiscal accountability in the discharge of their duties.
Represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Williams Oseghale, while speaking on the topic: “Safeguarding the Commission against Corrupt Practices,” in Akure, Ondo state, he stated that the only way to guard OSOPADEC against corrupt practices was for the board and management to uphold the values of integrity, courage, professionalism and collaboration.
The EFCC’s boss noted that fiscal accountability was vital in the fight against corruption, as it involves ensuring that financial resources are allocated and used efficiently, for the right purpose and further observed that institutions can be protected against corrupt practices if the citizens individually and collectively play their roles with a sense of responsibility.
He added, “If we discharge our duties with integrity, courage and professionalism, there will be no issues. It is my sincere belief that if every board member, management staff of OSOPADEC uphold these values strictly, OSOPADEC will in no distant time, transform into a foremost commission that the state will be proud of”.
Olukoyede said “The onus is on us as individuals to be accountable, transparent and committed to due process and procedures. We enjoin board members, top management and staff to be foot soldiers in the task of safeguarding institutions against corrupt practices”. He therefore, enjoined the staff to be whistleblowers by reporting acts that questions integrity.
He charged individuals to report corrupt practices through the Eagle Eye application of the EFCC, a digital reporting device that allows for anonymous reporting.
Olukoyede assured that the EFCC was fully committed to discharge his duties in the country, stating that the commission has successfully discharged its mandates of investigation, prosecution and prevention of economic and financial crimes since it came into operations in 2003, leading to record-setting number of convictions, money and other assets recoveries and the restoration of investors confidence on the economy.
The EFCC boss highlighted some of the commission’s major, achievements including the convictions of some former state governors, managing directors of banks, top police and military officers, top civil servants and bankers, pointing to the recent forfeiture of 753 units of duplexes, recovered in Abuja to the federal government and the deportation of 192 foreigners involved in cyber crimes and money laundering in Lagos as landmark achievements.
