We are not in Ekiti to kill businesses but to help them grow — EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed allegations that its operations in Ekiti State are disrupting legitimate businesses, insisting that the anti-graft agency is in the state to create a safer environment for lawful enterprises to thrive rather than intimidate residents or stifle economic activities.

The Commission also refuted claims of harassment and intimidation by its operatives, maintaining that its officers are guided by strict operational standards and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

It would be recalled that the Commission recently strengthened its operations in the state with the inauguration of its new zonal directorate office in Ado-Ekiti, commissioned in early June by Senator Kashim Shettima.

During the inauguration, the Vice President described the new office as a strategic step towards strengthening the fight against economic and financial crimes in the South-West, while improving the Commission’s capacity to protect the nation’s economy and promote transparency and accountability.

It was gathered that some business owners, especially lounges, hotels and restaurants, were raising concerns of low patronage allegedly caused by the activities of the anti-graft agency.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the Commission neither harasses nor intimidates members of the public, stressing that every operation carried out by the agency conforms with established Standard Operating Procedures.

According to him, the Commission does not conduct arbitrary night operations as alleged in some quarters, adding that its operatives are well-trained professionals who understand the rules guiding investigations and arrests.

“We don’t harass and we don’t intimidate. We don’t do night operations. Our officers are professionals; they know what to do. You only need to find out exactly the set of people making those allegations because, for us, we are professionals. We don’t harass people, we don’t intimidate people, and whenever we make arrests, we do so professionally,” Oyewale said.

He reiterated that the EFCC remains an anti-corruption agency committed to enforcing the law within the bounds of professionalism and due process.

“As an anti-corruption agency, we have our standard operational procedures. We are not in the business of harassment, and we are not in the business of intimidation,” he added.

Responding to concerns that the Commission’s presence in Ekiti could discourage business activities and investment growth, Oyewale said such fears were unfounded, stressing that legitimate entrepreneurs and investors have absolutely nothing to fear from the anti-graft agency.

According to him, the EFCC’s mandate is to eliminate financial crimes and other illicit activities capable of undermining genuine businesses and economic growth.

According to him, “We are in Ekiti State to help businesses grow. We are there to ensure that every threat to lawful businesses is removed. There is no way our activities can negatively affect legitimate businesses. Every lawful business owner has nothing to fear. We are in that location to make businesses grow.”

The spokesman noted that by tackling corruption, fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes, the Commission is helping to build an environment where investors and genuine entrepreneurs can operate with confidence.

He urged members of the public to disregard misinformation capable of creating unnecessary fear, assuring residents that the Commission would continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with fairness, professionalism and respect for the rule of law.

The clarification comes amid public discussions in Ekiti State that some suspected young individuals, popularly referred to as internet fraudsters, are leaving the state following the establishment of the EFCC’s presence in Ekiti State.