The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON have made fresh moves to strengthen their working relationship towards improved asset recoveries and management.
Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity in a statement yesterday said these moves were made in Abuja on Thursday, June 6, 2024 when AMCON’s management, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gbenga Alade paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters. While acknowledging the support of the EFCC over the years, Alade stated that his Corporation craved for more support from the Commission.
“I really want to appreciate what you have done for AMCON, but we want more and that is why we are here. AMCON cannot achieve anything without the EFCC. We cannot achieve our objectives without the EFCC, and this is the reason for our strategic alliance”, he said.
He asked for the Commission’s enhanced support for AMCON’s recovery drives in aviation, oil and gas and the power sectors. “We have some knotty issues particularly with the airlines which are of strategic importance to Nigeria. We have a lot of oil and gas cases too. The power sector is another one. We have many people that are owing. The airlines, the oil sector and the power sector are of strategic importance to the economy of Nigeria. We want to concentrate on these areas. The amount of money we are talking about here are in millions of dollars and billions of naira. If we can concentrate on these sectors and crack the issues, it will help the economy of Nigeria. This is why we have come, we need more support from you.”, he said.
Responding, Olukoyede assured him of the support and collaboration of the Commission, stating that an enhanced working relationship between the two organisations was necessary in the interest of the country.
“AMCON and EFCC have always been partners. That is the line we will continue to toe in the EFCC. We will review issues and continue to work in the interest of this nation. Over the years, I am not sure there is any agency that supported AMCON like the EFCC. That is why we dedicated a Desk to AMCON. So far, the relationship has been mutually beneficial. You have supported us in our investigations, and we have also supported you in carrying out your mandate. We must realise that we must work in the interest of Nigerians first,” he said.
While reiterating that the EFCC under his leadership will always do right things, Olukoyede reaffirmed that the new anti-corruption fight is tailored towards stimulation and reflation of the economy.
“I want to promise you that we will always do the right thing. I am going to use the instrumentality of the anti-corruption fight to drive and stimulate the economy and that is where EFCC and AMCON need to come together and collaborate. Where there is a crime, we identify and investigate and do what we are supposed to do. We have had instances where we recovered money and properties for AMCON”, he said.
The AMCON MD/CEO was at the EFCC in the company of Mr Adeshola Lamidi, the Executive Director of Resolution/Enforcement, and Mr Lucky Adaghe, the Executive Director of Operations. Other members of the team include Mr Kamilu Omokide, the Group Head of Asset Management, Mr Albert Nwanozie, Head of Legal Department, Mr Jude Nwauzor, Head of Corporate Communications Department, and Mrs Irene Inalegwu of the Inter-Governmental Department of AMCON.