The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, has assured the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC of support and commitment of the state’s traditional institution to the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes.
He gave the assurance in Lagos, while receiving the Acting Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Ahmad M. Ghali, who led top officers of the Commission on a courtesy visit to his palace.
“Your
presence
here
today
is
a
mark
of
respect, not
only
to
the
traditional
institution
of
Lagos,
but
to
the
enduring
values
of
integrity,
justice
and
collaboration. I
am
pleased
to
receive
you
on
this
critical
courtesy
visit and
to
assure
you
of my fatherly
support
and
wise
counsel,” he
said.
While commending
EFCC’s
relentless
efforts at
rooting out corruption, economic
and
financial
crimes in
the society, he
noted that
the
fight
against
corruption
and
economic
crimes
“is
a
task
that
demands
the
strength
of
institutions,
the
wisdom
of
leadership,
and
the
unity
of
the
people.”
He further
expressed
gratitude
to
the
EFCC for
its
“efforts
at protecting
the
economic
well-being
of
Lagos
State
and
its
environs” and
urged
the
Commission
not
to
relent
in
its
fight
to
redeem
Nigerian
youths
from
the
allure
of
internet
fraud.
“The
get-rich-quick
syndrome
is
wrong
and
should
be
discouraged.
Even
the
two
holy
books,
the
Bible
and
the
Holy
Quran,
frown
at
it,”
he
said.
Ghali who expressed
gratitude for
the royal audience
granted
to
the
EFCC
delegation,
disclosed
that
the
visit
was
to
familiarize
with
the
state’s
traditional
institution
and to
formally
inform the
Lagos
paramount
traditional
ruler of
the
creation
of a new EFCC Directorate in
the
state:
the Lagos
Zonal
Directorate
2,
Okotie-Eboh,
Ikoyi,
Lagos.
“Your Royal Majesty, I bring warm greetings from the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. Today, my team and I consider it most necessary to seek an audience with Your Majesty in full recognition of your fatherly role in the society. Beyond this, I am here to formally inform you, as one of our highly respected critical stakeholders, of the creation of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC. The new directorate was established to further strengthen our unwavering resolve to combat the menace of economic and financial crimes in this domain,” he said.
While
underscoring
the
vital
roles
of
traditional
institutions
in
building
a
society
free of criminalities
and
fostering
good
governance,
Ghali regretted that
many
parts
of
the
state
are
‘fast
becoming
hotbeds
of
economic
and
financial
crimes.”
According
to
him,
“Almost
daily,
the
Directorate
is
inundated
with
credible
intelligence
about
alleged
involvements of
youths
across
various
parts
of
the
state
in
cybercrimes. Another
grave
concern
is
the
increasing
number
of
land
fraud
cases,
which
form
the
bulk
of
petitions
regularly
submitted
to
the
Directorate
for
investigations.”
Ghali appealed
for
the
Oba’s
prayers and
support in
the fight against
corruption, economic
and
financial
crimes
in
the
state.
“Ka’biyesi,
I
am
counting
on
your
support
because
your
voice
is
deeply
respected
and
carries
tremendous
influence
in
our
society. As
a
revered
king,
you
are
closer
to
the
people
than
we
are,
and
they
are
traditionally
inclined
to
listen
to
your
guidance. In
view
of
this,
I
would
like
to
respectfully
draw
from
your
fountain
of
wisdom,
especially
as
a
retired
super
cop,
on
how
best
to
navigate
the
unpredictable
landscape
of
combating
economic
and
financial
crimes
in
this
jurisdiction
and
to
flush
out
non-state
actors
from
their
hideouts,” he
said.
Media & Publicity
May 6, 2025
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