In his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, expressed his admiration for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its recent actions against currency speculators and street hawkers operating illegal foreign exchange markets across the country. The commendation was made during a courtesy visit from Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Halima Mustafa Rufa’u on Friday, March 1, 2024.
Oba Ogunwusi acknowledged that as a result of the EFCC's intervention, the value of the naira improved against the dollar, highlighting the artificial and deliberate nature of the situation. He stressed the importance of consistent action from the EFCC and other government agencies in tackling this issue.
The monarch praised the EFCC as the most active anti-graft agency in the country, under the leadership of Mr. Ola Olukoyede, and encouraged the agency to continue working towards cleansing the economy.
In addition to expressing gratitude for the visit, Oba Ogunwusi urged Nigerians to refrain from amassing illegal and unexplainable wealth and instead focus on the growth and development of the country's economy.
Rufa’u, in response, thanked the Ooni for taking the time to meet with her, despite his busy schedule. She expressed her concern about the significant damage caused by illegal miners and the detrimental impact on Osun State's solid mineral resources, which are crucial for economic growth. Rufa’u called for collaborative efforts to tackle illegal mining in the state.
Furthermore, Rufa’u sought the support and cooperation of the monarch in addressing the issue of cybercrime among students in tertiary institutions, both in Osun state and the country as a whole.
Accompanying Rufa’u on the visit were senior officials from the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC.