The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has expressed strong criticism over what he describes as a contradictory attitude among Nigerians towards corruption.

Speaking in Abuja  during a visit by officials of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by Chris Olukolade, Olukoyede stressed that corruption remains the biggest obstacle to Nigeria’s development.

“One of the major problems in Nigeria which when tackled, will make under-development a thing of the past, is corruption and financial crimes,” he said

The EFCC boss emphasised that the responsibility to fight corruption lies not only with the government but with every citizen, adding that true progress requires collective commitment to integrity and accountability.

Olukoyede also pointed out the contradiction in public attitudes, noting that while Nigerians decry corruption, they often support and defend corrupt leaders when they are prosecuted.

“Everybody is crying that Nigerians are corrupt, that the system is corrupt; that corruption is killing us and destroying our system, but when we investigate high profile cases and arraign people in court, the same people will carry placards and be supporting corrupt leaders.

“It doesn’t show that we are serious about this fight, the fight is supposed to be a collaborative effort,” he stated.

Olukoyede reiterated the EFCC’s commitment to combating financial crimes within the limits of the law and called for greater public collaboration in the fight against corruption. The agency, he said, will work with the CCC to enhance strategic communication and public awareness about integrity and accountability.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has on Friday arraigned a group of individuals from the 792 alleged internet and cryptocurrency fraud suspects apprehended last December in Lagos.

The suspects, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian, were arrested in a surprise crackdown dubbed the ‘Eagle Flush Operation.’ According to the EFCC, the foreign nationals were allegedly involved in orchestrating large-scale internet fraud schemes and recruiting Nigerian youths into illicit cyber activities.

Those arraigned on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos were 11 Chinese nationals, a Filipino, and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd.

A statement released by the EFCC via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle listed the defendants as: Wang Zheng Ming, Li Yin Hui, Xian Hong Will, Zhang Xiao Lei, Long Zhao Ming, Guo Xiao Fei, Yang Sheng, Wang Zheng Feng, Chen Wenyuan, Liu San Hua, Luo Jia You and Rheign Dela Vega.
The commission arraigned them before trial judge D.I Dipeolu on separate charges of cybercrimes, cyber-terrorism, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others.