The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has assured Nigerians that it will never again allow looted assets by corrupt individuals to be relooted in the country.
He spoke during a visit to the main campus of the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia on Wednesday.
It could be recalled that the university’s facility was taken over by the federal government following a court order for the forfeiture of the hitherto privately owned institution.
The EFCC chairman said good governance is a possibility in Nigeria, and that Nigerians must enjoy the proceeds of accountability.
According to him, this is a testimony that good governance is a possibility in Nigeria, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given them a marching order to go and ensure delivery of good governance, and he has provided the leadership directly and indirectly, by actions and by words.
“Never in the history of this country are we going to allow recovered assets to be relooted again. So, this is a testimony of accountability, it is a testimony of transparency, it is a testimony of judicious use of recovered assets.
“Nigerians deserve to enjoy the proceeds of accountability and that is why we decided to give this (University) back to the people. After recovery, we feel the people of the immediate community must be the first beneficiaries. So, it is important for us to appreciate the leadership of Mr President because this has not been happening before.
“Just yesterday, I was in Bayelsa State to commission some projects. That ordinarily was not supposed to be in the mandate of the EFCC, but because those projects were built with proceeds of crime; from the money recovered from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) strictly. And that is what we would be doing going forward.
“The president directed that we hand over this project in Kachia to the Ministry of Education, which we did openly at the Villa, and I promised at that event that we will make sure that the facility is used for what the president has directed. And that is why we are here today to show Nigerians that, Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, is a reality.
“So, let the nay sayers, who think nothing good can come out of anti corruption war in Nigeria, know this. This is a testimony that anti corruption war is working and it is going to work for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.
Olukoyede expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving the EFCC under his leadership the opportunity to function well, just as he lauded Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung, and other stakeholders for their commitment to the realisation of the federal university.
In his remarks, the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, commended the management office of the commission for yielding to the request of granting the forfeited Nok University to be used as the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Barnabas Qurix, commended the EFCC chairman for the visit and solicited necessary support that will enable the university to stand on its feet.
