The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has lauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its operational effectiveness and sustained collaboration in combating both national and transnational financial crimes.
This commendation was delivered on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of INTERPOL officials led by Cyril Gout, Executive Director, Police Services, to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In his remarks, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Head of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB), AIG Olaolu Adegbite, emphasized the strategic partnership among the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies. “We have been working together and supporting one another. At the NCB, we always prioritize collaboration with the EFCC,” he stated.
Adegbite praised the EFCC’s domestic and international impact, describing the agency as “a model and an international brand” that positively represents Nigeria. He acknowledged the EFCC’s active participation in several INTERPOL-led initiatives such as Project Agric, Project Water, various cybercrime operations, and the recently concluded Project Serengeti. He noted that EFCC personnel consistently deliver exceptional results and contribute meaningfully to joint operations.
Highlighting the EFCC’s integration with global systems, he noted that the Commission was one of the first Nigerian agencies linked to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 Network—a secure global communication system for law enforcement agencies. He also appreciated Mr. Olukoyede for supporting EFCC’s involvement in INTERPOL’s Silver Working Group, which focuses on tackling money laundering through the Silver Notice mechanism introduced in 2024.
Adegbite further revealed that Mr. Gout’s visit to Nigeria coincided with the formal handover of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) to regional and national authorities. WAPIS is a digitized data-sharing platform designed to enhance cooperation among law enforcement agencies across the 16 ECOWAS member states. He emphasized the critical role of digital criminal databases like WAPIS in fighting transnational crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and terrorism.
He noted that the EFCC played a pioneering role in the operationalization of WAPIS, becoming the leading Nigerian agency to upload the highest volume of data since the programme’s inception in 2019.
In his remarks, Mr. Gout highlighted the significance of WAPIS as a national information system. “It is now a Nigerian system for collecting and sharing data vital to national safety and security. We believe that a unified national information system is the most efficient way to achieve cohesive intelligence sharing and effective collaboration,” he stated.
Representing the EFCC Chairman, Director of Investigation and Commander of the EFCC, CE Abdulkarim Chukkol, welcomed the INTERPOL delegation and expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership. He noted that since the Commission’s establishment in 2003, INTERPOL has remained a dependable ally, particularly in areas of field operations, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.
“We have benefitted from numerous joint operations and training programmes with INTERPOL, which have enhanced our institutional capacity. Personally, I have participated in several of these operations both within and outside Nigeria. The EFCC has significantly contributed to identifying crime trends, data analysis, and strategy formulation for crime prevention,” Chukkol remarked.
He further noted that the increasing globalization of crime and the EFCC’s expanded operations in recent times have underscored the need for enhanced data sharing. “In one operation alone, we arrested over 700 suspects, including 194 foreign nationals. With the ease of movement within the ECOWAS region and the transnational nature of modern crime, effective data exchange is critical. The WAPIS platform is a timely and valuable tool, and we are confident it will greatly enhance our operational effectiveness,” he concluded.
