EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede, Receives Certificate of Appreciation from Canadian High Commissioner

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa Olukoyede, has been presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salvaggio. The certificate was awarded in recognition of Olukoyede’s leadership and the EFCC’s pivotal role in combating transnational crime and strengthening security and justice across borders.

The Canadian High Commissioner commended the partnership between the EFCC and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which has grown through vital intelligence exchanges, operational support, joint investigations, and capacity-building initiatives since the establishment of the RCMP’s liaison office in Nigeria in 2021. The partnership has facilitated stronger collaboration, resulting in tangible outcomes such as asset recovery, financial restitution, and dismantling of cross-border criminal syndicates.

Salvaggio particularly cited “Operation Hot Wheels”, a joint operation spearheaded by the EFCC with the participation of the Nigeria Customs Service, as a prime example of the collaborative success between both countries. The operation disrupted a major vehicle trafficking network and reinforced bilateral security ties.

Olukoyede acknowledged the global nature of organised crime, stressing that the only way to effectively counter it is through equally strategic international alliances. He pledged the EFCC’s readiness to take the partnership with Canada and the RCMP to greater heights, believing that by doing so, they will see even more remarkable results.

Other Nigerian law enforcement agencies honoured at the event include the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Police’s Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja. The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, received the award on behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service, while the Secretary of the NDLEA, Haruna Shadrack, received the certificate on behalf of the NDLEA Chairman. Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olaolu Adegbite, received the award on behalf of Interpol Nigeria.