Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has warned financial technology companies across Nigeria to stay alert and protect their platforms from fraudsters.
Olukoyede gave the warning in Abuja on Thursday, while addressing chief executive officers of fintech firms at an industry engagement meeting held at the commission’s corporate headquarters.
The EFCC boss, while commending the executives for expanding financial access and driving innovation across the country, warned that the same opportunities have also been exploited by criminals to carry out fraudulent activities.
“The opportunities you have created have also given criminals the opportunity to perpetrate crimes, and over the years, we have discovered that there is a need for us to meet from time to time, even in the interest of your business. We will also tell you the things that we are privy to in respect of your operations and services that we think criminals are actually exploiting and how to block those spaces and strengthen the regulatory regime around the business you do,” he said.
He stressed the need for closer cooperation between the Commission and fintech operators, urging them to build a strong working relationship through information sharing.
Olukoyede also advised the companies to protect their reputation, noting that trust remains their most valuable asset.
“It has taken some of you years to get to where you are, and I tell you, one mishandled transaction can destroy what you have built over ten years. You must be conscious of your reputation; that is the most valuable thing you need to grow in a business, not even the money. Once a reputation is damaged, you can hardly get it back. We want to collaborate with you, work with you, and that is one of the ways to fulfil our own mandate,” he said.
He further urged stakeholders in the sector to work together to strengthen regulations and protect the economy from threats such as insecurity.
The EFCC boss specifically warned fintech firms to tighten their systems against terrorism financing by complying with existing rules on reporting suspicious transactions.
“We have been complaining about insecurity in Nigeria. Of course, we are also vested with the power to investigate terrorism financing, and one of the areas we have seen that these people exploit is your space. We think it is high time we did something about that. People pay ransom, and we discover that most times they collect the ransom through POS, so what can we do to tidy up this loose end, whether by virtue of doing your KYC or coming up with other ideas?” he said.
