The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a strong warning to corrupt politicians siphoning local government funds, vowing that they will face prosecution.

Speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit on Wednesday, Olukoyede addressed activists, traditional rulers, and local government officials, stressing the need for financial accountability in Nigeria’s 774 local councils.

With the Supreme Court’s recent ruling granting full autonomy to local governments, he urged council chairmen to develop capacity, manage resources effectively, and implement projects that benefit their communities.

“Even though you may have financial autonomy, you must remember that you don’t have constitutional immunity,” he warned. “The application of your resources will be strictly monitored, not just by anti-corruption agencies but also by the state government.”

He also criticized the lack of active legislative units in many local governments, warning that without proper separation of powers, council chairmen risk running their administrations like sole administrators, undermining due process and accountability.

Olukoyede tasked traditional rulers and civil society organizations with tracking budgets and monitoring local government activities to prevent corruption.

“Traditional rulers must play an active role in overseeing local government administration in their domains. Civil society groups must alert anti-graft agencies when corruption is detected,” he stated.

The EFCC chairman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability in local governance, promising to take action against any officials mismanaging public funds.