Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has urged officers of the commission to place the anti-corruption fights on initiatives and modalities capable of promoting the country’s economic growth and development.

A statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday in Abuja, said Olukoyede stated this in Lagos while addressing officers of the Lagos zonal command.

Mr Olukoyede said, “There is a need to redirect our focus towards what we were set up to do in Nigeria, which is to drive economic development. We will tilt our focus towards that area. We will work to drive economic development, create wealth and employment.

“The era of winding down businesses by way of investigation is gone. We will look into the mix-fund rules that separate proceeds of crimes from legitimate money so as to allow businesses to grow.”

He also stated that the commission, in line with its mandate, would make conscious efforts to redeem the image of the country in the global community.

“We will drive this to tell the whole world that we are ready to get out of this mess. We will do our own and pressurise other stakeholders to do theirs,” he said.

He charged officers of the commission to uphold the core values of the EFCC which include integrity, courage, professionalism and collaboration in the discharge of their duties.

He stressed that the anti-corruption drive must open up an atmosphere of accountability and transparency in the country.

“You must be professional in all you do. Our image should reflect our core values.  I have been part of this system. I was out for three years and I know the way things are,” he said.

He tasked officers of the commission to be above board, insisting that asset declaration was compulsory for every staff member.

“This was the reason I recently directed that all staff members should declare their assets. I have declared mine, so you must declare yours too,” he said.

(NAN)