The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has warned local government chairmen to be accountable in managing public funds, stating that they do not have immunity from investigation and prosecution.
Speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit, Olukoyede stressed that the commission would not wait until the end of their tenure before probing them.
A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, quoted Olukoyede as saying, “Local government chairmen do not have immunity, and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you.”
He lamented the widespread poverty and underdevelopment in rural areas despite the substantial funds allocated to local councils over the years.
“The impact of these resources is not felt by the people. Instead of driving growth, many councils exist only in name,” he stated.
To enhance accountability, Olukoyede advised local government chairmen to establish compliance units to monitor resource utilization and project execution. He also revealed that the EFCC had set up a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department, with officers scheduled to visit local councils in Gombe to track fund utilization.
“EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to monitor how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams,” he warned.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, expressed concern that only seven out of the 774 local government areas in the country have websites, making it difficult to track their financial activities.
