Lawyer and public affairs commentator Deji Adeyanju has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intensify its monitoring of state revenues and investigate credible allegations of diversion or misuse of public funds.

Adeyanju made the call on Monday while reacting to the latest performance figures released by the anti-graft agency under its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

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Olukoyede had disclosed that the EFCC recovered more than N1.23tn, $684.48m, £373,905.78 and €9.34m between October 2023 and June 2026.

The EFCC chairman also said N661.32bn and $492.37m had been released to beneficiaries during the period, while the commission secured 10,872 convictions from 14,476 cases filed.

Reacting to the figures, Adeyanju commended the commission, saying the reported recoveries and convictions showed that sustained efforts could produce tangible results in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

“The recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, on the achievements of the Commission deserves commendation. The figures speak for themselves,” Adeyanju said.

He urged the EFCC to sustain the momentum while broadening its approach from recovering allegedly stolen funds to preventing the diversion of public resources in the first place.

According to Adeyanju, increased revenues received by state governments following the removal of the petrol subsidy make closer scrutiny of public spending necessary.

He said Nigerians had a legitimate right to know how the additional resources accruing to state governments were being deployed.

“More importantly, the fight against corruption must extend beyond recovering yesterday’s stolen funds to preventing the diversion of tomorrow’s public resources,” he said.

“Following the removal of the petrol subsidy, state governments have received significantly increased revenues and fiscal inflows. Nigerians have a legitimate right to know how these additional resources are being applied.”

Adeyanju called on the EFCC to pay closer attention to credible allegations involving the misuse of increased state revenues, within the commission’s statutory mandate.

“The EFCC should, within its statutory mandate, pay closer attention to credible allegations concerning the diversion or misuse of these funds and follow the money from allocation to expenditure,” he said.

He maintained that the commission’s reported recoveries were commendable but should form part of a broader anti-corruption strategy focused on prevention and accountability.

“The Commission has made commendable progress, but the fight against corruption cannot be won through recoveries alone,” Adeyanju stated.

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His comments come amid continuing calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, particularly as governments at both federal and state levels seek to increase revenue collection and spending on infrastructure and public services.