Connected Development, a civil society organisation, has called on the newly appointed chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, to ensure he upholds the independence of the Commission in its operations.

In a statement on Friday, Hamzat Lawal, the CODE’s chief executive officer, called for increased cooperation between CSOs, the EFCC, and other government agencies to combat corruption.

He also urged the new EFCC boss to maintain transparency and accountability within the agency and its operations to ensure public trust and credibility.

He urged Mr Olukoyede to enhance the protection of whistleblowers who play a critical role in exposing financial crimes in the country.

Mr Lawal said, “More importantly, he needs to uphold the independence of the EFCC in its operations, ensuring that it remains free from undue political influence. My advice to him is to provide solid and principled leadership to guide the EFCC in fulfilling its mandate and promote professionalism and ethical conduct within the organisation.

”As the world continues to evolve, I will advise the new EFCC boss to encourage a culture of continuous learning and adaptation to address evolving forms of corruption in the country.”

Mr Lawal added, “He should also focus on a multi-faceted approach that combines effective law enforcement, prevention, and recovery efforts.

“Combating financial crimes is a complex task, and success will depend on adapting to new challenges and maintaining a strong commitment to the rule of law and justice.”

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed Mr Olukoyede as the new EFCC chair.