The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has issued a note of warning to corrupt elements, especially in the public sector, stating that they can run but cannot escape justice.

Olukoyede said this when the executives of the Committee of Youth Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) paid him a courtesy visit at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

He condemned public officeholders who would not want to account for their stewardship, stating that such acts of impunity have nurtured corruption in the country.

Olukoyede said, “What we are simply saying is that if you have occupied a position of trust, come and account.

“You can only run, you can’t hide. If we don’t bring people to account they will drive the country into a pariah state, where anything goes. There is nothing personal about the work we do in the EFCC.

“You can see the developments that are taking place in countries that do not have the kind of resources that Nigeria has. Nigeria will be great again but we must all come together to fight corruption.”

He called on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the EFCC in its effort to redeem the youth from the path of derailment.

“We are going to maintain this tempo. Well-meaning and reform-minded Nigerians must support us. We must not allow our youths to derail. We have allowed it over a period of time and we have seen the destruction.

“Some of our youths are smart and skilful. It is just a matter of sensitising them towards how to channel their talents to productive engagements. There is no future in cybercrime.

“Let everybody realise this, the fight is not for ourselves. It is for the youth, it is for the entire country. Just imagine what will happen if EFCC does not work for one month, so it is important for us to give this mandate serious collaboration and support.”

He stressed that Nigerians who desire a better future for the youth and the country, especially those who have suffered harm and humiliation from cybercrime must stand up and be counted for collaboration and partnership with the EFCC.

“It is important for us to realise that if we continue to move in this trajectory the future would be bleak for the youth and the country. We must do something fast. Travel abroad and see the humiliating treatment they give Nigerians.

“Once they see your Green Passport, they take you aside from the queue and subject you to a thorough search because of the bad image that a few of our youths have created for the country. Nigerians need EFCC. If you are not working, who will even think of you? We are working, that is why you are seeing all these attacks everywhere.”

He appreciated the group for its anti-corruption stance and interventions in the direction of re-orientation of the youth away from cybercrime. (Saturday Sun)

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