The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to returning recovered stolen assets to the Nigerian people, emphasizing that such resources will no longer be subject to “reloot” or misappropriation.
Olukoyede made the declaration on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Southern Kaduna.
The institution, formerly known as Nok University, was forfeited to the government by court order following investigations that revealed illicit funding.
The EFCC confirmed that the property was repurposed into an educational facility in line with a directive from President Bola Tinubu, underscoring the administration’s resolve to convert recovered assets into public goods.
“This property has been returned to the people,” Olukoyede said. “Recovered assets will not be allowed to be relooted. It is no longer business as usual.”
The EFCC Chairman credited President Tinubu for the visionary decision and acknowledged the crucial roles played by Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani in facilitating the transition.
Describing the university’s infrastructure as “exceptionally well-developed,” Olukoyede urged local communities and stakeholders to take ownership and safeguard the facility. “Most universities don’t have what we’re seeing here. It is now up to you to preserve it for future generations,” he stated.
Academic activities are slated to commence by September 2025, with Olukoyede pledging to revisit the campus once students begin classes.
“This is what the fight against corruption is truly about — returning stolen resources to the people,” he added.
The university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Qurix, hailed the handover as a milestone for the region’s development, while Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South, praised the initiative as a transformative step in addressing long-standing neglect.
