By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for stronger cooperation among traditional institutions, the judiciary, security agencies and communities in Nasarawa and Plateau states as part of efforts to combat corruption and other economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.
The commission's chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the appeal through the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC's Abuja Zonal Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC Michael Wetkas, during engagements with key institutions in the two states.
The meetings, held between October 2 and October 6, 2026, were designed to strengthen existing relationships with institutional partners and secure additional support for the commission's investigative and enforcement responsibilities.
The development was reported on October 9 by Oriental News Nigeria.
The EFCC said cooperation with other institutions was increasingly important because financial crimes had become more complex, with cybercrime, fraudulent investment schemes and illegal economic activities creating challenges for investigators and regulators.
The commission also highlighted the need to address illegal mining in Plateau State, describing it as an economic and security concern that could provide opportunities for financial crimes to thrive.
During the engagements, the EFCC sought support from the Emir of Lafia, the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army's 3 Division in Jos.
The institutions expressed willingness to cooperate with the commission in areas connected to their respective responsibilities.
The discussions also covered the need for public education, intelligence sharing, effective judicial processes and greater awareness of investment scams.
TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS URGED TO SUPPORT ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS
One of the EFCC's engagements took place at the palace of the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Dauda Bage, a retired judicial officer.
Olukoyede, speaking through the commission's delegation, appealed to the traditional institution to support efforts to prevent corruption and economic crimes, particularly offences involving young Nigerians.
The EFCC chairman expressed concern about the involvement of some young people in internet fraud and other forms of cybercrime.
He argued that the response to such offences should not depend solely on arrests and prosecutions. Traditional rulers, families, community leaders and other institutions could also help influence behaviour and promote lawful economic activities.
The commission's position reflects the importance of prevention alongside enforcement. While investigators can pursue suspected offences, community institutions may help discourage participation in criminal activity by promoting awareness of its consequences and encouraging legitimate alternatives.
Traditional rulers often maintain relationships with residents, youth groups, local businesses and community organisations. These relationships can provide opportunities to communicate information about fraud prevention and encourage people to report suspicious activities.
However, traditional institutions do not replace the responsibilities of law-enforcement agencies. Suspected offences still require appropriate investigation, and criminal liability must be established through the legal process.
The Emir welcomed the EFCC delegation and expressed support for its work against internet fraud and other financial crimes.
He also stressed the importance of confronting corruption as part of efforts to promote national development.
The engagement therefore centred on the potential contribution of traditional institutions to a wider strategy involving enforcement, public awareness and community responsibility.
EFCC RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT INVESTMENT FRAUD
During a separate visit to the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman, the EFCC chairman highlighted concerns about fraudulent investment schemes.
According to the report, Olukoyede noted that investment fraud could affect people from different professional backgrounds, including judges and other highly placed individuals.
Investment fraud can take several forms. A scheme may promise unusually high returns, misrepresent the risks involved, conceal the identity of the people managing the investment or use payments from new participants to create the appearance of profitability.
Fraudsters may also use online platforms, social media advertisements, fabricated testimonials or false business documents to persuade people to transfer money.
The commission's warning underlines the importance of checking the legitimacy of an investment before committing funds.
Potential investors should independently verify the identity of the company or individual offering an opportunity, examine the relevant registration and regulatory information, and be cautious of promises of guaranteed or unusually high returns.
They should also avoid relying solely on testimonials, promotional materials or claims that an investment is endorsed by influential individuals.
The fact that a scheme has an online presence or uses professional-looking documents does not establish that it is legitimate.
The EFCC's engagement with the Nasarawa State judiciary was intended to strengthen institutional cooperation in responding to such financial crimes.
Justice Usman reportedly acknowledged the prevalence of investment fraud and expressed the judiciary's readiness to continue working with the commission.
She also indicated that the judiciary could support the effective handling of urgent applications required for lawful investigative operations.
Judicial oversight remains important because some investigative measures require court authorisation. Timely consideration of properly filed applications can help investigations proceed without unnecessary delays while preserving the legal safeguards applicable to affected individuals.
The collaboration discussed at the meeting is therefore intended to improve coordination between investigators and the courts rather than remove judicial scrutiny from enforcement activities.
POLICE AND EFCC DISCUSS INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION
The commission also met with Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammed.
During the engagement, the EFCC chairman emphasised that cooperation between the two agencies was necessary to tackle financial crimes and related criminal activity.
Although the EFCC and Nigeria Police Force have different statutory mandates, their responsibilities can intersect when investigations involve fraud, organised criminal activity, financial transactions or multiple suspected offences.
Information sharing and appropriate operational coordination can help agencies establish facts, identify suspects and protect evidence.
The police commissioner reportedly assured the EFCC delegation of the command's willingness to cooperate whenever assistance was required.
Such cooperation can be particularly relevant when investigators need operational support or information held by another agency.
However, effective coordination also requires clear responsibilities, lawful information handling and respect for the legal limits governing each institution.
The latest engagement indicates that the EFCC wants its relationship with the police to remain active and practical, rather than limited to occasional meetings.
Whether the cooperation produces measurable results will depend on subsequent actions, including joint efforts where legally appropriate, information sharing and the handling of specific investigations.
The report did not announce a new joint operation, a fresh arrest or a quantified amount of money recovered from the engagements. Its central development was the commission's effort to secure stronger institutional support for its anti-corruption work.
PLATEAU ILLEGAL MINING IDENTIFIED AS A CONCERN
In Plateau State, the EFCC delegation met Major General Maxwell W. Dangana, the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army's 3 Division, at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Jos.
The engagement focused on the importance of cooperation between financial-crime investigators and the military.
Olukoyede explained that the operational responsibilities of the EFCC and the Nigerian Army could make cooperation important when investigations require security assistance, intelligence sharing or support for personnel operating in the field.
He also raised concerns about illegal mining in Plateau State and its implications for the economy and national security.
Illegal mining can create several challenges beyond the immediate extraction of mineral resources. Depending on the circumstances, unlawful operations may involve the evasion of regulatory requirements, unrecorded commercial transactions, financial flows that are difficult to trace and the involvement of criminal networks.
Where mineral extraction takes place outside applicable legal requirements, authorities may face difficulties establishing who controls the operation, where the resources are sold and whether the proceeds are properly accounted for.
The EFCC's concern is that illicit economic activities can create opportunities for financial crimes, including transactions that conceal the source or destination of proceeds.
Nevertheless, not every mining-related violation automatically constitutes money laundering or another financial crime. Investigators must establish the facts and determine which laws, if any, have been breached.
The commission said it wanted stronger cooperation with the Army to identify, disrupt and investigate criminal activity associated with illegal mining and other illicit economic activities.
The military's role may include providing appropriate security support where necessary, particularly when operations present risks to investigators or other personnel.
The GOC reportedly assured the EFCC delegation that the division was willing to provide assistance when required.
He also acknowledged that contemporary security challenges increasingly require effective relationships between institutions with different but complementary responsibilities.
The engagement highlights the connection between natural-resource governance, economic accountability and security. Where illegal extraction is suspected, effective enforcement may require coordination among agencies responsible for financial investigations, mineral regulation, policing and security.
ARMY REQUESTS TRAINING ON INVESTMENT SCAMS
One practical proposal emerged from the meeting between the EFCC and the Army's 3 Division.
Major General Dangana reportedly requested an interactive awareness session for officers and soldiers on investment scams and related financial crimes.
The proposed session would help military personnel recognise fraudulent investment offers, understand methods used by scammers and avoid becoming victims themselves.
The request reflects the fact that financial fraud can affect people regardless of their profession or public responsibilities.
Military personnel, like other members of the public, may encounter investment promotions through social media, messaging applications, personal contacts or online advertising.
Some schemes use promises of rapid wealth, fixed returns or exclusive access to supposedly profitable opportunities to encourage people to commit money quickly.
Others may present themselves as legitimate businesses while providing little verifiable information about how the investment generates returns.
Education can help potential victims identify warning signs before transferring funds.
Useful precautions include checking whether a financial service or investment provider is appropriately authorised, understanding how returns are generated, verifying the identity of those requesting payment and resisting pressure to make immediate decisions.
Investors should also be cautious about arrangements that require them to recruit additional participants as the main way to earn returns.
The proposed EFCC awareness session could provide an opportunity to explain these risks using examples of common fraud methods.
The report did not state a date for the training or confirm that it had already taken place. It described the session as a request intended to strengthen preventive awareness among military personnel.
WHY COOPERATION MATTERS IN FINANCIAL-CRIME INVESTIGATIONS
Financial crimes can involve complicated transactions, digital communications, multiple accounts and individuals operating in different locations.
An investigation may require information from financial institutions, digital platforms, regulators, police authorities and other organisations.
Where suspected offences overlap with security threats or illegal economic activities, additional cooperation may be necessary.
A coordinated response can help investigators understand the relationship between financial transactions and the activities under investigation.
It can also help reduce gaps in communication between institutions that may otherwise hold separate pieces of relevant information.
However, cooperation must be accompanied by accountability. Agencies need to operate within their legal mandates, protect confidential information and ensure that investigative measures are supported by appropriate legal authority.
The judiciary remains essential in reviewing applications that require court approval and resolving disputes arising from enforcement actions.
Public trust is also important. Anti-corruption institutions are more likely to receive useful information when people understand how to report suspected wrongdoing and have confidence that reports will be handled appropriately.
The EFCC's engagements in Nasarawa and Plateau therefore point to a broader approach combining enforcement, prevention, institutional coordination and public education.
The immediate outcome was a set of expressions of willingness to cooperate. The longer-term value will depend on whether the commitments translate into effective investigations, better fraud prevention and appropriate legal action against proven offences.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT
The commission's emphasis on traditional rulers and other community institutions also raises the importance of public participation in identifying suspected corruption.
Residents may encounter questionable investment offers, suspicious business arrangements or apparent misuse of funds in their workplaces and communities.
Reporting concerns through appropriate official channels can help authorities assess whether further investigation is warranted.
However, members of the public should distinguish between reporting verifiable concerns and making unsupported accusations against individuals.
A responsible report should provide relevant information, such as transaction records, communications, dates or other material that may help authorities assess the allegation.
People should avoid spreading unverified claims on social media as though they have already been proven.
The existence of an investigation does not establish guilt, and anyone accused of wrongdoing retains the applicable legal rights.
Public education should therefore encourage both vigilance and responsible reporting.
The EFCC's latest engagement with traditional institutions and security agencies is an attempt to widen the network of organisations supporting the prevention and investigation of financial crimes.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The meetings have established an expressed willingness among the participating institutions to strengthen cooperation with the EFCC.
In Nasarawa State, the commission received assurances of support from the Emir of Lafia, the Chief Judge and the Commissioner of Police.
In Plateau State, the Army's 3 Division indicated that it was prepared to assist the EFCC where necessary, particularly in areas requiring security cooperation.
The proposed awareness session for military personnel is one practical step that could follow from the discussions, although no confirmed date was announced in the report.
Further progress will depend on how the institutions implement their commitments and whether cooperation produces identifiable results.
The EFCC has not announced a specific new prosecution, arrest or recovery directly arising from these visits. The significance of the development lies in its focus on strengthening the institutional relationships needed to prevent and investigate economic and financial crimes.
As Nigeria continues to confront corruption, investment scams, cybercrime and illegal economic activity, coordination between law-enforcement agencies, the judiciary, traditional institutions and communities may help improve the response.
That cooperation must remain consistent with due process, transparency and the legal responsibilities of each institution.
The central challenge will be turning assurances of support into sustained action that helps prevent financial losses, strengthens investigations and ensures that proven offences are addressed through the courts.
Iroyin Yoruba Television will continue to monitor confirmed developments in Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts and report significant enforcement actions, court decisions and policy changes.