The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has urged local government chairmen across Nigeria to practise prudence and uphold accountability in their responsibilities.
In a statement on Wednesday, Olukoyede made it clear that the chairmen do not have immunity.
The EFCC boss emphasised that local government chairpersons are not exempt from investigation or prosecution for fraudulent activities.
He stressed that EFCC would not wait until a local government chairman’s tenure ends before initiating an investigation.
The statement was signed by the Head of Media and Publicity for EFCC, Dele Oyewale.
According to the statement: “Local government chairmen do not have immunity, and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you.
“The impact of these resources is not felt by the people living in these areas. Instead of serving as catalysts for growth, councils have become mere caricatures that exist only in name.
“He informed them that the Commission has established a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) Department, adding that officers from the department would be visiting local government councils in Gombe State to monitor the use of enhanced allocations from the Federation Account.
“The EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to check how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes, you may even see us in your dreams.”
