The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a total of 13,000 convictions, its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said.
He said last year alone, 4,111 were convicted. The 13,000 convictions were achieved in 22 years.
Olukoyede said elaborate reforms are a panacea to investment risks on the African continent.
He said lowering investment risks in Africa require broad-based and radical reforms that would make the continent a beautiful bride to investors.
He spoke in Washington D.C, United States, on Friday, at the EBII Group African Leaders and Partners Forum.
The EFCC’s chief joined other world leaders at the forum to discuss de-risking investment in Africa’s strategic sectors: agriculture, energy transition and critical minerals.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said Olukoyede “showcased” how the anti-graft commission has fought financial crimes for the right investment climate to thrive in Nigeria.
He added that the EFCC, in its 22 years of existence, has maintained a trajectory of vigorous investigations, prosecutions and assets tracing, recovery and return. The consistency of the commission on its mandate, he explained, has made it possible for it to deepen and widen the investment fortunes of Nigeria.
He said: “There can be no greater incentive to investors than assurance of due process and rule of law. From a background of zero conviction for financial and economic crimes, we have achieved over 13,000 convictions in 22 years of operation. In 2024, the commission secured 4111 convictions. This rekindles confidence that investors who, for whatever reason, felt cheated, can seek redress and get justice’’.
He said Africa has huge potential and deep riches in minerals and talents of its young and tech savvy population but needs fully-integrated reforms to attract more foreign direct investments.
