By Atoyebi Nike
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has restated the agency’s resolve to ensure that assets recovered through its anti-corruption efforts are used to directly benefit the Nigerian people.
Speaking during a visit on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Southern Kaduna, Olukoyede hailed the transformation of the institution as a symbol of justice and national progress.
The university site, formerly operated as Nok University a private institution was seized following a court ruling over allegations of illicit funding. The EFCC facilitated its transfer to federal ownership, and it has since been repurposed for educational use with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing community leaders, traditional rulers, and local stakeholders gathered on campus, Olukoyede said the EFCC’s inspection tour was not just symbolic but a mark of accountability under the current administration.
“This inspection is about transparency. The President has given the directive, and we are here to ensure that recovered assets don’t disappear again into private hands. These properties must be used for the public good,” Olukoyede stated.
He emphasized that the days of recovering stolen public wealth only for it to be stolen again were over.
“It is no longer business as usual. What you see here is a national asset recovered from corruption and returned to serve our people. That is the true meaning of the fight against corruption,” he added.
Olukoyede thanked President Tinubu for authorizing the use of the property for educational development, describing the decision as a reflection of the President’s commitment to good governance. He also praised Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for their roles in actualizing the project.
“This wouldn’t have happened without the President’s political will. He chose development over auction. He saw the future and acted,” he said.
Impressed by the quality of infrastructure at the site, Olukoyede called on the people of Southern Kaduna to take collective responsibility for safeguarding the institution.
“This facility rivals some of the best in the country. We must protect it. It belongs to you, to your children, and their children after them,” he urged.
Olukoyede disclosed that the university would begin academic activities in September 2025 and pledged to return for the formal launch and presentation of the pioneer students to the Nigerian public.
“When the first students resume, I’ll be back. This is what justice looks like giving people back what corruption took from them,” he said.
Highlighting other recent impacts of the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts, Olukoyede mentioned the recent commissioning of infrastructure projects in Bayelsa State, funded through recovered funds previously misappropriated from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“We don’t build projects, but when corruption is defeated and money is returned, it must be seen. That’s why we were in Bayelsa—to show the people that democracy can deliver justice and development,” he said.
Professor Barnabas Williams Qurix, Vice Chancellor of the new institution, commended both the federal government and the EFCC for transforming what was once a private asset into a national legacy.
“This university is more than bricks and mortar, it is a gift to Southern Kaduna and a generational investment,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, described the development as a dream realized for his constituents.
“We have told our people that this government will deliver-and today, your presence confirms that promise. Thank you for turning our hope into something tangible,” the senator said.
