By Francis Wilfred
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged new cadets of the Commission to be driven by the values of integrity and discipline in the course of their duties as officers of the EFCC.
He gave the charge on Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Passing out Parade of 404 EFCC cadets at Nigeria Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende Hills, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
A statement signed by the EFCC head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewole, stated that the the cadets comprised of 294 detective superintendents and 110 detective inspectors.
According to him the EFCC’s boss charged the new officers to be anti-graft fighters buoyed by patriotic disposition and accountable conducts.
“Being an operative of the EFCC carries heavy responsibilities of personal discipline, integrity, courage and accountability. Your training essentially offered you a firm foothold in law enforcement and organisational discipline. The EFCC has zero tolerance for corruption and compromise. You are coming into an organisation that places a high premium on integrity and rectitude”, he said.
Continuing, Olukoyede stressed that, “you must fit adequately into the mould of officers that are well-rewarded and morally upright. Integrity, for us, is not a slogan, it is a rule of engagement and an article of faith in the work we do. It is often said that he that comes to equity must come with clean hands. Nothing can be truer than this. You cannot offer the nation what you don’t have. Anti-corruption officers must be above board at all times”
“For the umpteenth time, prepare your minds to be professional and diligent. Sanctions and punitive measures against corrupt practices by officers of the Commission are stiff. I wouldn’t want such for any of you”.
He further stated that, the sustenance of the Commission’s culture of exemplary law enforcement, anchored on global best practices is at the heart of its huge investment in the training of its cadets.
“The Commission has invested heavily in your training. This is because we believe in turning out officers that are moulded and grounded in sound intellect, physical agility, courageous comportment and accountable conduct. Our officers are trained to square with and even tower above their global counterparts. This is owing to the scope of our mandate which is broad and global. So, in your individual capacities, you are equipped as an international law enforcement officer and you must see yourselves as such”
Talking about the issue of corruption, the anti-graft czar stated that to tackle it, concerted efforts, energy, passion and drive of every patriotic Nigerian are needed. He scored the EFCC high in its adherence to its mandate because “the Commission has shown that it is capable of tackling any economic and financial crime and this is not just self-adulation or aggrandisement. It is owing to its development of effective manpower that can weather the storms of investigations and prosecution of cases. We will continue in this trajectory. Fresh officers coming into the fold of the EFCC should seek to surpass existing records of progress in their various sections and units. We are eager to break the siege of graft in our land and by our individual and corporate determination, we will surely sail through”.
The Reviewing Officer of the Parade and governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, congratulated the cadets for demonstrating resilience and determination. “I congratulate all of you for going through this and demonstrating exactly that you are indeed ready for Nigeria. After witnessing what you have just demonstrated today, we believe that the future of Nigeria is very bright,” he said.
While applauding the EFCC for its successes in the anti-corruption fight, he urged members of the National Assembly to further strengthen the Commission in the pursuit of its mandate with a recommendation of the creation of a special anti-corruption court. “I also want to thank the members of the National Assembly for the support that they have continued to give you, the EFCC, for what you are achieving. But as we are going through a constitutional review, I want to use the opportunity to ask the National Assembly to consider a special court that will be given these kind of cases to be managed,” he said.
Congratulatory messages and admonition to the young cadets were made by the Senate Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende and his House of Representatives counterpart, Honourable Ginger Onwusibe .
Some of the cadets earned special recognition for their exemplary performance during the course of the training. Amagiya Efe Princewill emerged Overall Best cadet in the superintendent category and Sanni Ayoola Blessing emerged Overall Best cadet in the Inspector cadre.
