A Nigerian-American forensic psychologist and criminal justice expert, Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, has described the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, as a “man of integrity” who is focused on strengthening the anti-graft agency beyond his personal tenure.
Oshodi, in a commentary on Monday, said Olukoyede had prioritised professional investigations, capacity building, asset recovery, preventive measures and public confidence in the EFCC. He noted that the chairman’s leadership appeared focused on developing systems and young officers capable of sustaining the commission’s work beyond his time in office.
According to the professor, Olukoyede’s reported presentation at the 43rd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime in the United Kingdom, where he disclosed that the EFCC had secured the forfeiture of cash and assets worth more than $500 million to the Federal Government, was part of a broader institutional approach. Oshodi also highlighted the commission’s emphasis on forensic investigation, international cooperation, whistleblower participation and due process.
Oshodi said the EFCC must, however, remain open to scrutiny and guard against selective enforcement, political pressure, unlawful detention, compromised evidence and other investigative shortcomings. He cited the forfeiture proceedings involving properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as an example of the importance of judicial oversight in asset recovery.
The professor argued that the success of Olukoyede’s tenure should ultimately be measured by whether the EFCC becomes more professional, transparent, impartial and resilient rather than by the chairman’s personal visibility. He stressed that investment in young investigators and expertise in areas such as cybercrime, digital evidence, cryptocurrency, forensic accounting and international financial investigations would be crucial to sustaining the commission’s effectiveness.
Oshodi also backed the EFCC’s emphasis on prevention, saying Nigeria could not rely solely on arrests and prosecutions to tackle corruption. He called for stronger procurement systems, beneficial ownership records, effective audits, suspicious transaction reporting and stronger whistleblower protection, adding that the fight against financial crime requires cooperation among government institutions, financial professionals, journalists and the public.
He concluded that the true test of Olukoyede’s leadership would be whether the EFCC could continue operating effectively after he leaves office, stressing that a strong institution should not depend solely on the personality of its leader.
