Crime

Canada honours EFCC Chairman Olukoyede for role in global fight against transnational crime

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4 weeks ago

May 22, 2025

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In a significant diplomatic gesture underscoring international efforts against organized crime, the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, conferred a prestigious Certificate of Recognition on the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

The honour was presented by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio, during a formal ceremony held at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.

The award celebrates Olukoyede’s outstanding contributions to the global campaign against transnational crime, including economic and financial offences, vehicle trafficking, online exploitation, and drug smuggling.

High Commissioner Salvaggio lauded the EFCC chairman’s unwavering dedication, describing him as a pivotal figure in curbing cross-border criminal networks.

“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,” Salvaggio said.

He also highlighted the importance of the collaborative relationship between Canadian and Nigerian law enforcement, facilitated through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s liaison office established in Nigeria in 2021.

“This partnership has grown through intelligence sharing, operational support, joint investigations, and capacity-building initiatives,” Salvaggio explained. “We’ve seen concrete results, such as the recovery of stolen assets, financial restitution, and the dismantling of criminal syndicates.”

One of the highlights of this cooperation is “Operation Hot Wheels,” a joint operation led by the EFCC with the participation of the Nigeria Customs Service. The operation successfully disrupted a major vehicle trafficking ring and reinforced bilateral security cooperation between Nigeria and Canada.

“These collective efforts underscore a simple truth: crime knows no borders, and neither should our pursuit of justice. Canada deeply values its law enforcement partnerships with Nigeria and looks forward to strengthening these collaborations to enhance global security, protect victims, and dismantle criminal enterprises,” Salvaggio added.

In his response, Mr. Olukoyede expressed profound appreciation for the recognition, emphasizing the importance of global alliances in tackling increasingly complex and transnational criminal enterprises.

“I’d like to sincerely thank Your Excellency for this honour. It is one thing to do something, it is another for it to be recognised. This award is a testament to the strong partnership between Nigeria and Canada, and between the EFCC and the RCMP,” Olukoyede said.

He emphasized that transnational crime has become highly sophisticated and must be countered through equally strategic and coordinated international efforts.

“The kind of crime we face today is global in scope. You’d be shocked at the level of sophistication these syndicates operate with. That’s why nations must come together to form alliances—counter-syndicates, if you will—to effectively dismantle them,” he stated.

Olukoyede reiterated the EFCC’s readiness to deepen its collaboration with Canada, pledging to elevate the partnership to new heights for even greater impact.

“We are open to more mutually beneficial partnerships. We believe that with enhanced collaboration, we’ll achieve even more significant results in the fight against crime,” he affirmed.

Also recognized at the ceremony were key Nigerian law enforcement partners. The Nigeria Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Police’s Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja were each honoured for their roles in advancing international security cooperation.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, received the award on behalf of the Customs Service.

Haruna Shadrack accepted the certificate on behalf of NDLEA Chairman, while Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olaolu Adegbite, received the award for Interpol Nigeria.

The event marked a milestone in Canada-Nigeria security cooperation and further highlighted the global significance of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in the fight against organized and economic crime.