Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has alleged that the depth of corruption in the power sector would make anyone weep for Nigeria.

He said: “As we speak, we are grappling with electricity. If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears.

“People were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment. Instead of using what they call 9.0 guage, they will go and buy 5.0.

“Every time you see the thing tripping off, the thing gets burnt, and all of that, it falters and it collapses. It’s part of our problems.”

Olukoyede made the revelation during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

He stressed the importance of collaboration between the Commission and lawmakers to combat financial crimes effectively.

One of the key areas of concern, according to Olukoyede, is the power sector, where corrupt practices have been undermining the country’s infrastructure.

It was at this point that the EFCC boss revealed that some contractors awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment were cutting corners.

He said they were using substandard materials that have contributed to the frequent power outages and system failures.

This, he said, is one of the many examples of how corruption in critical sectors is holding back the country’s development.

Olukoyede also discussed the EFCC’s new strategic focus on asset tracing and recovery, which he credited for the agency’s successes over the past year.

Furthermore, he revealed that “For every N10 recovered, perhaps N30 or N40 Naira may have been stolen.

“If we recover about N440 billion and several billions of dollars in a year, imagine the total amount siphoned from our system. That’s the unfortunate reality.

“Thus, we are focusing on prevention. Over the last year, we have established a new directorate for risk assessment and control.

“To recover 10 Naira, you may spend between 4 and 5 Naira. But to prevent 10 Naira from being stolen, you spend less than 1 Naira, based on our research and experience.

“Prevention is, therefore, the more effective way to combat corruption.

“We need more resources to carry out our mandate effectively. Our staff are underpaid, and we need to improve their welfare.”

Reacting, Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, expressed the committee’s readiness to support the EFCC through legislation and improved budget allocations.

Onwusibe also urged the Commission to enhance its operational capacity and strengthen collaborations with other agencies and development partners to improve accountability and efficiency in the fight against corruption.”

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed that officers who were protecting foreign hackers arrested for cybercrimes were engaged in illegal activities.

This follows the November 4 announcement by the police, which revealed the arrest of 130 suspects involved in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities threatening national security. Among those arrested, 113 were foreign nationals—87 men and 26 women—primarily from China and Malaysia, alongside 17 Nigerian collaborators.

Reports indicated that some of these foreign nationals had been receiving police protection prior to their arrest.

Responding to these claims, Egbetokun addressed the issue on Monday during a workshop on criminal investigation standardization, confirming that the officers involved had been arrested and were under detention.

“It is true that some policemen were seen protecting these foreigners. They have been arrested. We found that these policemen were on illegal duty. Nobody deployed them. They were not properly assigned to that task,” Egbetokun explained.

He stated that the officers’ unit commanders have disowned them, and the officers would face disciplinary action.

“I have explained that those police escorts were not formally deployed by the police authority; they were found performing illegal duties. They have already been found escorting the arrested foreigners. Their unit commanders have denied having sent them. They were performing illegal duties, and they will be dealt with accordingly,” Egbetokun added.

However, the IG clarified that not all police protection is improper. He emphasized that certain individuals, particularly prominent businessmen and employers, do require police protection due to their societal and economic roles.

“That does not negate the fact that we have to provide protection for certain individuals in society. There are VIPs that the police must protect. There are major businessmen, employers of labor, and individuals who have thousands of Nigerians in their organizations. These individuals deserve protection,” he said.

Egbetokun further explained that when determining who qualifies for police protection, authorities consider the person’s status and contributions to the economy.

“If something happens to them, you can imagine the impact it will have on their businesses and the effect it will have on unemployment rates in our country. We assess their position in society and their contribution to the economy when determining whether they need police protection,” he said.

He also addressed concerns about police officers being assigned to individuals who do not require security, revealing that some officers were improperly attached. “Some of these policemen you see attached to people who don’t deserve police protection were not formally deployed by the police authority. Some of them were picked off the streets. We are already addressing this issue. Recently, I issued a directive that any policeman found in such situations will be traced to their origin, and their commander or supervisor will be held accountable. We are confident that with the measures we have taken, such incidents will reduce,” Egbetokun explained.

On the issue of police escorts being misused, the IG warned that action would be taken if individuals were found to be abusing their privileges.

“It is important to note that sometimes individuals apply for escorts. We investigate to confirm they deserve them and provide the necessary security. However, if those individuals misuse their escorts, we immediately withdraw them. There are cases where those entitled to police escorts misuse them, and we take action accordingly,” he said.

In relation to the minors recently arrested, Egbetokun clarified that they were not detained for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests, as some had claimed. Instead, they were arrested for engaging in criminal acts, including looting and destroying public infrastructure.

“I don’t want to make any categorical statements on this issue after the intervention of Mr President. I want to thank Mr President for his fatherly intervention in granting those children a pardon. However, I want to correct the impression that the minors were arrested for participating in the End Bad Governance protest. That is a false narrative,” Egbetokun said.

“The police did not arrest anyone for participating in the End Bad Governance protest. We arrested criminals who took advantage of the protest to destroy public infrastructure, private businesses, and commit arson. These individuals cannot be considered protesters. The police did not arrest any protesters,” he added, emphasizing that those involved in looting and destruction were not engaged in peaceful protest but in criminal behavior.

“It’s a mischievous narrative to claim that the 76 suspects who were arraigned in court were people who participated in the End Bad Governance protest. We have said time and again that protesting is a right of citizens. However, these individuals were caught on video looting businesses, destroying private and public property, and committing crimes. You cannot expect the police to turn a blind eye and allow this destruction to continue. No society can progress under such circumstances,” Egbetokun concluded.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed that he will not yield to pressure to stop demolition of shanties that pose security threats to the residents of the territory.

He made the vow while reacting to protests by occupants Ruga, an illegal settlement at Wuye, behind Finance Quarters, harbouring more than 10,000 illegal occupants that  was demolished on November 5,  by a  Ministerial Tasks Force named “Operation Sweep”  that had been demolishing illegal settlements across the city.

The occupants during the protest, called for the minister’s sack for demolishing their illegal settlements, claiming it was built by their forefather.

The illegal occupants of Ruga with support from some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) had on Friday protested the demolition, asking Preident Bola Tinubu to sack Wike.

But speaking on Sunday evening when he inspected demolished shanties in Ruga,  Wike said no amount of intimidation, blackmail or abuses by the illegal occupants or CSOs would deter the government from doing its job.

He expressed worry that the area had been demolished 22 times and yet the illegal occupants have refused to leave.

He warned that would not be a party to a situation where an illegal settlement would be demolished for 22 times and still standing.

“Be assured that we will continue with the demolition of shanties that pose a security threat to FCT, Abuja.

“It doesn’t matter what colouration; whatever name anybody wants to give to it, we will do the right thing and nothing will stop us,” he said.

Wike warned the illegal occupants against rebuilding any structure in the demolished area, saying the FCT Administration has a responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of all residents.

He explained that the shanties were demolished because security agencies have identified Ruga as one of the areas that pose security threats to the FCT,

He added that security agencies were working day and night to keep Abuja safe.

“This is where you have the rail line; this is a buffer zone and if we allow these kinds of people to live here, what it means, anything can happen to our train.

“Nobody will take that risk. You can imagine the number of persons that are living here, whom we cannot identify.

“We have told them that nobody should build anything, whether temporary or permanent, until the government has taken a final decision on what to do with the land,” he said.

He asked the spokesman of the illegal occupants to nominate five persons, including himself and meet with government officials on Tuesday to find a way out for the people.

On other shanties across the cities, the Minister said that all shanties would be demolished, while some of the areas would be converted to bus terminals.

Earlier, the spokesman of the occupants, Malam Abba Garo, said that although they could not lay claim to the land but have been living in the area for the past 39 years.

Garo noted that the area had been demolished 22 times, but occupants returned and rebuilt because they have no alternative accommodation.

He described the Ruga as a “mini-Nigeria” with people from different parts of the country represented in the community.

He pleaded with Wike to find them alternative land to settle, stressing that they have nowhere else to go.

NAN