Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
By Abimbola Obatayo, Ibadan
……. Those Who Engage In Financial Crimes Should Be Used As Anti-Venom When Caught, Ooni Advices
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II admonished the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) to create a department that would see to how the smart brains of many of the young internet fraud suspects could be put to use to develop the country.
He made the remarks today 4th September, when a team of EFCC officials paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in Ile Ife, Osun State.
According to the first class monarch he advised the Commission to always look at things in a pragmatic manner.
“I will advice the EFCC to always look at things in a pragmatic manner. Once the youths are arrested, there are positive ways their thoughts could be redirected. There are many ways you can redirect the bad things on their mind and bring out the good ones because many of them are even ignorant of what they are doing.”
“You should have a unit to see to how to develop the brains of those engaging in financial crimes and redirect it and use same to block others from committing the same crime. Use them as anti-venom anytime they are apprehended, especially as to how they were able to carry out successful operations,” he counseled.
Oba Ogunwusi, who applauded the effort of the Commission in its effort to stamp out corruption in the country, also praised the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, for seeking to actively engage all stakeholders in the anti-graft campaign.
“Your approach is good and you have developed a goodwill to do well. You have sanitized and cleansed the private and public sectors,” he said.
While pledging his support to the Commission, the Ooni said he would continue to pray for its success in order to recreate a nation that will be the pride of all the citizens.
“I will continue to pray for you as a traditional ruler. As a co-chairman of traditional rulers, we are doing our best to make sure we have a crime-free society. I can assure you that we will continue to work together for Nigeria to be a better country.
“Today, you have honoured me with your visit to my palace, and I will assure you that we will work together to ensure that our country is a better place even for the generation unborn.”
He further admonished the Commission to never pander to the antics of politicians and also be impartial in the discharge of their duties.
The Head of the EFCC Ibadan Zonal office, Friday Ebelo, who led the team to the palace, had earlier informed that the visit was the initiative of the Commission’s acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
According to him, Magu had insisted that all critical stakeholders, especially the traditional institutions across the country, be carried along in the campaign against corruption since they are closer to the people who are the target of the message.
“Our mission here is to seek your assistance to take our message to the grassroots. This country belongs to all of us and if we must develop it, everybody must be involved,” Ebelo stressed.
