Stop Celebrating Corrupt Individuals, EFCC Tells Nigerians

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged Nigerians to stop celebrating convicted corrupt individuals, warning that the growing trend of honouring such persons with traditional titles undermines the national fight against corruption.

Speaking at a one-day capacity-building workshop for media practitioners and civil society organizations in Kaduna, Nasir Salele, Head of Legal Department, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, expressed concern that communities often glorify individuals convicted for corruption instead of repudiating their actions.

Salele said he had “seen instances where local people from their villages come to court, and instead of supporting the prosecution, they do the opposite.”

He added that some supporters even go as far as protesting naked in favour of individuals facing corruption charges.

Citing a widely known example, he lamented: “There was a case in Nigeria well-known and on record where an individual was investigated, prosecuted, found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. After he completed the imprisonment, the entire community came out to celebrate and welcome him back as their son. Ideally, the community ought to have detested him.”

Salele described this pattern as “the unfortunate reality in Nigeria,” where people in authority “amass money without explanation, and instead of being questioned, he is given a traditional title.”

According to him, this attitude leaves prosecutors wrongly perceived as “enemies.”

Declaring the workshop open, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Kaduna Directorate, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, speaking on behalf of the Executive Chairman, praised the media and civil society for being “critical drivers of change in the fight against the menace of corruption.”

He noted that journalists “hold power accountable, and illuminate the dark corners where corruption often thrives.”

Kaltungo acknowledged that the EFCC’s major breakthroughs have been aided by information from the media and CSOs, saying they have helped expose “suspicious financial activities, abuse of office, and patterns of fraud.”

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening collaboration, stressing that “our fight against corruption is not a solo mission; it is a collective national endeavour.”

Also speaking, ACE I Tony Orilade, Head of Public Interface, Headquarters, criticized the culture of glorifying corrupt individuals, noting that some Nigerians “can even do asoebi in support of such individuals.”

He insisted that the country must be protected from corrupt individuals and fraudsters.

Head of Public Relations, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Zainab Sani Ahmed, urged the media to intensify public enlightenment efforts, stressing the need for Nigerians to “join in the fight against corruption.”

@Daily Trust