The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has urged officers and men of the Commission to uphold integrity as the bedrock of credibility and relevance in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
Olukoyede gave the charge on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the EFCC’s 2025 Recognition and Reward Ceremony, an event organised to honour staff for exemplary performance and dedication to duty.
Reiterating his zero-tolerance stance on compromise, the EFCC Chairman described integrity as the Commission’s most valuable asset and the foundation upon which public trust is built.
“As operatives of the EFCC, we are as strong as our integrity and as weak as our compromises. Integrity is the only currency of acceptance in every clime. If we want to remain relevant as the nation’s foremost anti-corruption agency, we must sustain and continually improve on our integrity,” he said.
He expressed profound gratitude to God for preserving the Commission throughout the 2025 operational year and commended officers for their resilience and commitment despite operational challenges.
“I think we need to give ourselves a pat on the back for sailing through the year successfully and remarkably,” he noted.
Describing the EFCC’s mandate as a critical pillar of nation-building, Olukoyede likened the Commission’s role to that of “guardian angels safeguarding the economy against pillage, leakages, sabotage and other infractions,” stressing that the enormous responsibility placed on the EFCC makes trust a virtue that must be zealously guarded.
Highlighting the Commission’s performance in 2025, he disclosed that the EFCC recorded impressive recoveries and convictions, with notable progress across several operational fronts.
“From every indication, we did quite well in 2025. Our recoveries and convictions are impressive, and we are progressing on all fronts,” he said.
While commending the achievements, the EFCC Chairman cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that excellence is a continuous journey.
“Where we are is only a stage on the journey; where we are going is the true success point. We have a responsibility to always do better,” he added.
On the essence of the ceremony, Olukoyede explained that the Recognition and Reward initiative was designed to celebrate excellence, motivate staff, and encourage a culture of commitment and professionalism within the Commission.
“Every staff of the Commission is important, and every contribution matters. However, exemplary performance deserves recognition, and that is what we are here to celebrate today,” he said.
He urged award recipients to see the honour as a call to even greater service, while encouraging other officers to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee and Commander of the EFCC, CE Femi Peter Gbarufu, said the ceremony was organised to celebrate officers who distinguished themselves through dedication, diligence, innovation, perseverance and outstanding performance.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Staff of the Year Award, which was won by Superintendent of the EFCC (SE) Bilkisu Buhari Bala. In addition, 24 officers emerged as Best Staff across various departments of the Commission.
Among the award recipients were Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Monday Ocholi Attah; Chief Superintendent of the EFCC (CSE) Martha Ojochokutami Eche; Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC (ASE I) Patience Saba Peter; Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC (ASE I) Yusuf Awang Mangut; Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Abiodun Adebanjo; Inspector of the EFCC (IE I) Shehu Muhammad Auwal; and Detective Assistant (DA II) Zaharadeen Yakubu Adamu, among others.
The ceremony also recognised prosecutors and sections with the highest convictions and recoveries, as well as officers who have served the Commission for 20 years and above with Long Service Awards.
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