The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria on Wednesday,
May 21, 2025 honoured the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, with a Certificate of Recognition
for his outstanding contributions to the global fight against transnational
crime including economic and financial crimes, vehicle trafficking,
online exploitation and drug smuggling.
The Certificate was presented by the Canadian High
Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, during a ceremony
at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
Salvaggio commended Olukoyede’s leadership and
the EFCC’s pivotal role in curbing organised criminal networks operating across
borders.
“Your tireless efforts in combating transnational
crime, financial fraud, vehicle trafficking, online exploitation and drug
smuggling have been instrumental in strengthening security and justice across
our borders” he said. “Since the establishment of the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP), liaison office in Nigeria in 2021, our partnership with Nigerian
law enforcement agencies has grown through vital intelligence exchanges,
operational support, joint investigations and capacity building initiatives.”
He noted that the RCMP’s presence in Nigeria has
facilitated stronger collaboration, resulting in tangible outcomes such as
asset recovery, financial restitution and dismantling of cross-border criminal
syndicates.
“The RCMP’s partnership with the EFCC has led to the recovery and handover of
stolen assets and financial institutions, setting a benchmark for international
anti-fraud operations,” he said.
Salvaggio particularly cited "Operation Hot
Wheels", a joint operation spearheaded by the EFCC with the participation
of the Nigeria Customs Service, as a prime example of the collaborative success
between both countries. The operation disrupted a major vehicle trafficking
network and reinforced bilateral security ties.
“These collective efforts underscore a simple truth:
crime knows no borders, and neither should our pursuit for justice.
Canada deeply values its law enforcement partnerships with Nigeria and looks
forward to deepening these collaborations to enhance global security, protect
victims, and dismantle criminal enterprises that threaten our economies and
communities”, he said.
In his remarks after receiving the certificate,
Olukoyede expressed gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the
Commission’s commitment to international cooperation.
“I’d like to sincerely thank Your Excellency and truly
appreciate this honour,” Olukoyede said. Continuing, he stressed
that, “it is one thing to do something; it is another thing for it to be
recognised. This engagement is a testimony to the collaboration between Nigeria
and Canada, between the EFCC and RCMP, over the years.”
Olukoyede acknowledged the global nature of organised
crime, stressing that the only way to effectively counter it is through equally
strategic international alliances.
“The kind of crime we fight today has become global in
nature. You’ll be shocked at how sophisticated these criminal enterprises are.
It therefore requires countries to also form their own syndicates in order to
nip it in the bud,” he said
He pledged the EFCC’s readiness to take the
partnership with Canada and the RCMP to greater heights. “We are open to more
mutually beneficial relationships between our countries. We believe that by the
time we take this collaboration to the next level, we will see even more
remarkable results,” he said.
Other Nigerian law enforcement agencies honoured at the event include the
Nigeria Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and
the Nigerian Police’s Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale
Adeniyi, received the award on behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service, while the
Secretary of the NDLEA, Haruna Shadrack, received the certificate on behalf of
the NDLEA Chairman. Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olaolu Adegbite,
received the award on behalf of Interpol Nigeria.
