Category Nigeria News

Ola Olukoyede, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) executive chairman, claims that the commission has made unprecedented progress in the last two years.

Olukoyede disclosed the information on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference to celebrate his second year in office.

Between October 2023 and September 2025, he stated, “The EFCC has recovered more than 566 billion, several foreign currencies, and more than 1, 500 non-monetary assets.”

The EFCC Chairman, represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, said the Commission recovered ₦566, 319, 820, 343.40, $411, 566, 192.32, £71, 306.25, and €182, 877.10 during the period.

He claimed that the Commission had filed 10, 525 cases from more than 9, 000 petitions and 29, 240 investigations, which resulted in 7, 503 convictions.

Olukoyede referred to the accomplishments as concrete evidence of the EFCC’s renewed commitment to combating economic and financial crimes worldwide.

READ ALSO: DSS Arrests Three Suspect Gunrunners In Kaduna

He revealed that the Commission recovered 1, 502 non-monetary assets, including 402 properties in 2023, 975 in 2024, and 125 so far in 2025.

He stated that the forfeiture of Nok University, now the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Abuja, and the final forfeiture of 753 duplexes in Lokogoma, Abuja, are two notable landmarks.

According to EFCC policy, some recovered properties have been given to government agencies for use as offices.

The anti-graft agency’s director revealed that there were 100 billion dollars invested in key national initiatives, including the Students Loan Scheme and Consumer Credit Scheme.

He claimed that the initiative supports the federal government’s goal of providing affordable credit access and education to citizens.

High-Profile Disputes

EFCC

Additionally, the EFCC Chairman gave a list of numerous well-known criminal cases that were handled during that time.

Former governors Willie Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Darius Ishaku, Theodore Orji, Yahaya Bello, and former ministers Olu Agunloye, Mamman Saleh, Hadi Sirika, Charles Ugwu, and former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele are among them.

Olukoyede further disclosed that the Commission detained 792 suspects in Lagos in connection with money laundering and cryptocurrency ringleaders, including 192 foreigners who were detained and charged with a criminal offense.

He said, “This development sent a clear message that Nigeria won’t allow its territory to become a haven for cybercriminals.”

He noted that Fred Ajudua, Haliru Bello Mohammed, former PDP Chairman Haliru Bello Mohammed, former NSA Sambo Dasuki, and former Ngozi Olojeme boss Ngozi Olojeme have all been the subjects of recent corruption cases brought to light by the EFCC.

Olukoyede also announced the establishment of a Task Force on Naira Abuse and Dollarization of the Economy, which, according to him, has made notable progress in sanitizing currency operations nationwide.

The Chairman of the EFCC emphasized that improving national welfare is a key component of the Commission’s recoveries as well as figures.

Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights lawyer, claimed that some politicians are sponsoring cults, which are responsible for the rising insecurity in the South-East. &nbsp,

Odinkalu criticised those who claim the development is solely the result of the now-proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) interview on Channels Television on Thursday.

Odinkalu claimed that the notion that every issue in the South-East is an IPOB issue is absurd while acknowledging that separatist agitations contribute to the region’s insecurity.

“It’s absolutely not the case,” he added. Let me tell you that the South-East has the biggest security issue, in my opinion, not the IPOB, but cults, which are funded by politicians.

“Alright,” I say. You have no idea how terrible the problem of cults in the South-East is right now, according to the former head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

READ ALSO: Chidi Odinkalu’s Integrity Can Be Tarnished By Multiple Principalities At INEC

‘Overblown’

His statement comes in response to rising insecurity in some South-East states, which security officials and observers have largely attributed to IPOB activities.

In recent years, gunmen have attacked security posts, tainted several officers, mutilated numerous residents, and destroyed properties in the area.

Odinkalu contends that the association between cultism and IPOB is “overblown” despite the possibility of connection.

He claims that IPOB cannot thrive in some South-Easterly communities, which disproves the claim that the organization is merely to blame for the insecurity in the five states.

Joash Amupitan, the new head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has pledged to uphold the Constitution and the electoral laws of Nigeria.

He made this statement while speaking to journalists shortly after President Bola Tinubu sworn in at the State House in Abuja.

“I just took the oath of allegiance as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, as you may be aware.

In terms of the electoral system, he said to journalists on Thursday, “I reaffirm that I will defend the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Amupitan added that the country’s Constitution had clearly mandated him to ensure fair, credible, and free elections.

I’ll involve all parties involved in this process, not just making sure it’s done. You need all stakeholders to succeed, he said, regardless of how success is measured.

READ MORE: INEC Chairman Amupitan Meets Headquarters To Take Over Office

He said he would speak after receiving briefings from national commissioners, but that he would not do so in the upcoming Anambra election.

A week after the Senate approved his appointment following a thorough screening on October 16, President Tinubu swore in Amupitan as INEC Chairman.

Later, the new chairman accompanied by his family and close friends to the INEC headquarters in Abuja to officially take office.

Amupitan has been the electoral body’s substantive head since 1999 when democracy first emerged.

“Keep Democracy Strong”

President Tinubu appoints Amupitan to strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity and safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process during the swearing-in.

Your nomination and confirmation show the Executive and Legislative confidence in you.

In 25 years, our democracy has advanced significantly. Our electoral process must remain impartial, credible, and free to keep it strong. Therefore, I ask that you take steps to improve the security of our elections and strengthen the institutional framework of INEC.

Amupitan arrived at the State House earlier in the day, exchanging greetings with onlookers, and wearing a white agbada and gold cap.

Electoral Legitimacy

The 58-year-old law professor was subjected to extensive inquiries during his Senate screening about how he intends to restore Nigeria’s electoral legitimacy and implement meaningful reforms.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Amupitan promised to give reforms that boost voter confidence and promote transparency prioritization.

“We must conduct elections where even the loser can congratulate the winner and declare, “You won fairly and well. When that occurs, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored, he said.

Amupitan also refuted reports that he was a member of President Tinubu’s legal team at the upcoming presidential election.

He reiterated his impartiality to lawmakers by saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”

Three new commissioners and eight permanent secretaries have been sworn in by Katsina State governor Dikko Radda, who urged them to view their appointments as solemn obligations to serve the state’s citizens with integrity, accountability, and a sense of duty.

Yusuf Jibia, Aisha Malumfashi, and Sirajo Abukur are just a few of the commissioners who took the oath.

The Permanent Secretaries are: Nasiru Ladan (Kaita LGA), Yusuf Ahmed (Katsina LGA), Aminu Ibrahim (Katsina LGA), Dasuki Ibrahim Abubakar (Malumfashi LGA), Lawal Abashe (Matazu LGA), Ado Yahaya (Sabuwa LGA), Sani Rabi’u Jibia (Jibia LGA), and Aminu Ibrahim (K

The governor emphasized that the swearing-in ceremony occurred as his administration was reviewing its performance after two and a half years in office in an effort to improve the civil service and improve its ability to respond to citizen needs.

Top government officials, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and the appointees’ families attended the ceremony, which took place on Thursday at the Katsina Government House Council Chamber.

Governor Radda characterized the occasion as “a renewal of commitment to good governance, accountability, and effective service delivery.”

“This administration has been in power for almost two and a half years. Therefore, he said, “It is time for us to reevaluate what we have done so far and reposition people in various capacities to strengthen the system.”

Governor Radda praised the new commissioners’ ability, moral character, and public service record.

The Governor praised Jibia’s decades of experience in various leadership positions, including those of the local government commissioner, commissioner, and chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, and described him as “the oldest politician in the cabinet.”

He has done everything and been everywhere. His extensive experience, thorough knowledge of governance, and dedication to the public service will continue to benefit us, the governor said.

Update: Tinubu Swears In Amupitan As INEC Chairman

He also praised Aisha Aminu for her outstanding contribution to Katsina State’s governance and entrepreneurship.

Radda recalls her tireless efforts during his campaign and her impressive accomplishments as the era’s first director general of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), where she gave a lot of young entrepreneurs and small business owners a boost.

In order to continue benefiting from her experience, innovation, and commitment to youth and women empowerment, he said, “I decided to elevate her to the position of Commissioner” in light of her performance and my desire to see more women in government.”

Abukur was praised by the governor as a long-time political associate and a representative of young leadership spirit. He recalled Sirajo’s outstanding work as KASROMA’s leader, who helped to improve road maintenance and construction across the 34 local governments.

Radda emphasized that “we need to recruit young people into government so that we can harness their creativity, drive for development,”

Governor Radda also emphasized the value of diversity, arguing that Sirajo’s appointment shows that Rimi Local Government Area, which hasn’t had a commissioner since the return of democracy, is represented fairly and representative.

He stated, “As fate would have it, it is now time for Rimi to be represented in the cabinet,” underscoring his commitment to fair appointments in all sectors.

Governor Radda described their appointments as part of his ongoing effort to professionalize the state civil service, referring to the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries. He demanded that they follow a strict schedule, follow-through, and effectively support policy implementation.

Joash Amupitan has been appointed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu. &nbsp,

Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.

The professor of law was given the task of President Tinubu to enhance INEC’s institutional capacity and ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process.

Your appointment to the crucial position and the Senate’s confirmation as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission are testament to your capacity and the trust you have in the executive and legislative branches of the government.

I firmly believe that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest degree of integrity, dedication, and patriotism. “The significant achievement marked the beginning of a challenging but rewarding journey.

“Our democracy has advanced significantly.” Through innovation and reforms, we have strengthened and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system, over the past 25 years. Along the way, we have gained a lot and made significant improvements over what we had before.

We must now continue to adhere to the principles that govern democracy in a complex, multifaceted society.

Beyond Reproach: Integrity

The integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system must be beyond reproach, according to Tinubu, in order for it to continue to prosper.

The people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and determine their future are protected by the electoral process, which is a crucial component of democracy. Our electoral system must be unwaveringly trustworthy in order for our democracy to continue to flourish. Our elections need to be fair, credible, and free.

We must constantly improve the electoral process by addressing the issues of yesterday and creating new possibilities for the present and future. Election integrity must be maintained in order to keep the public informed about elections.

“All facets of the process, from registration to campaigning, to voting and counting, must be transparent, non-violent, and credible.

No electoral system is perfect, but since elections are crucial for a country’s future, it is crucial to constantly strengthen electoral institutions, making sure they are strong, resilient, and protected from official setbacks.

The President reaffirmed that “I therefore charge you, Professor, as you take on this crucial assignment to advance the integrity of our elections and electoral process and strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity.”

Amupitan met with onlookers at the State House on Thursday morning, clad in a white “agbada” and sporting a gold cap, and greeted them as he officially assumed the position of head of the nation’s electoral umpire.

Some presidential advisers accompanied the professor.

Read more about Amupitan’s confirmation as INEC Chairman in the Senate.

He resuming his duties as the new chairman shortly after taking the oath of office.

Restoring Election Credibility

Senators questioned the 58-year-old don about his plans to bring about positive changes in the commission and restore credibility to the electoral process during his screening last week at the Senate.

Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose term as INEC Chairman officially ended recently and was nominated by President Tinubu and supported by the National Council of State.

Since its founding, he is the electoral body’s sixth substantive head.

Amupitan had promised to prioritize electoral reforms that would boost voter confidence and ensure transparent polls while speaking to the Senate during his screening.

The professor stated that his main goals would be to strengthen the Electoral Act’s provisions to address irregularities in election dates and increase legitimacy.

“We must conduct elections where even the loser can congratulate the winner and declare, “You won fairly and well. When that occurs, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored, he said.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria clarified that he had never represented the President or represented any of the opposition candidates in the statement that he had also refuted reports that he had spoken to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court.

He reiterated his impartiality to lawmakers by saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”

Profile

The 58-year-old Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967, and is from Kogi State’s Ijumu Local Government Area known as Ayetoro Gbede.

He is Plateau State University of Jos’ Professor of Law. He graduated from the university as well.

He has a particular area of expertise in corporate law, law of evidence, corporate governance, and privatization law. In September 2014, he was appointed to the Nigerian Senior Advocate.

He attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987 after earning his primary and secondary education. In 1988, he was referred to the bar.

Amupitan completed his academic career in 1989 with a 1988-89 National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, earning both an LLM and a PhD in 2007.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the University of Jos’ deputy vice-chancellor (administration), as well as the Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s governor and chairman.

He is currently the head of public law at UNIJOS, along with the committee of directors and deans from 2012 to 2014.

In addition to his academic duties, Amupitan also serves on the boards of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education, among other positions.

He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996-2004).

Amupitan is the author of numerous legal books, including an introduction to the law of trust in Nigeria (2014), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).

Olisa Agbakoba, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has reiterated his call for decentralization of power, arguing that democracy will remain fragile without the transfer of power and resources to local governments and states.

Agbakoba made the call at a press conference in Lagos, Nigeria, where he presented a policy document titled “Devolution is the Solution – Foundational Reform Agenda for Transformation” (Francoise version).

Before the 2027 presidential elections, he referred to the blueprint as a blueprint for restructuring Nigeria’s political and economic systems.

Agbakoba criticized what he termed Nigeria’s “fatal illusion” of federalism, noting that the Federal Government is in charge of 97% of all revenues while the majority of states rely on bailouts.

Without federal assistance, “five out of thirty-six states cannot pay their salaries.” He claimed that there are more than 76 local governments and 36 states that serve as distribution centers for federal aid and are not development engines.

Read more about Western Democracy in Nigeria: Agbakoba and Defections Won’t Help.

He warned that because of this extreme centralization, millions of Nigerians are trapped in an unproductive informal economy, which only allows for three or four percent of GDP growth as opposed to the ten to twelve percent needed to escape poverty.

Political rather than economic

Agbakoba praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including those aimed at reducing fuel subsidies and liberalizing foreign exchange, but argued that they needed political reform to succeed.

“Political is the root of the problem,” not economic. Because you can’t patch a cracked foundation, he claimed, twenty-five years of constitutional amendments failed.

To formally impose federalism through a significant devolution of powers, the senior lawyer emphasized that Nigeria needs a new constitution rather than additional amendments.

Agbakoba argued that states should retain 60% of the nation’s internal revenue while maintaining control over their resources, including policing, electricity, and solid minerals.

He further stated that local governments must be granted constitutional authority in terms of community development, including education, healthcare, water, sanitation, and health.

The senior lawyer argued that the federal government should concentrate on foreign affairs, including currency, defense, immigration, and defense.

He claimed that a multi-centred economy with more people-centric governance would emerge from a centralized redistribution system.

Untapped Wealth , pp ,

Agbakoba noted that poor legislation and regulatory failures continue to stymie Nigeria’s 25 to 35 trillion-percent untapped revenue potential.

He revealed that illegal fishing, untaxed oil rigs, inefficient ports, and untaxed oil rigs cause annual losses of 11 trillion.

Additionally, the SAN claimed that unexploited resources like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, valued at up to 45 trillion, are present. Agbakoba argued that the implementation of these reforms would set Nigeria on its way to a development boom.

“If these reforms are put into place, Nigeria could have $500 trillion in its budgets.” In terms of infrastructure, education, and healthcare, we might rival Asian economies.
He predicted that a strong middle class would emerge, agriculture would feed Africa, industries would create millions of jobs, and there would be global competition for technology hubs, he said.

If Nigerians reject the current system, which benefits a few while impoverishing millions, then this transformation, he claimed, could take place in five years with solid foundations by 2030.

According to Agbakoba, political and economic restructuring is necessary to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.