EFCC Dismisses 27 Officers Over Fraud and Misconduct
By Patience Ikpeme
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed 27 of its officers in a decisive move to uphold the agency’s integrity and rid it of fraudulent elements.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, January 6, 2025. According to Oyewale, the officers were dismissed in 2024 following various allegations of fraudulent activities and misconduct.
Their dismissal was based on the recommendations of the EFCC Staff Disciplinary Committee and was ratified by the agency’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
Olukoyede reaffirmed the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, emphasizing that no staff member is exempt from disciplinary action. “Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the Commission would always be investigated, including a trending $400,000 claim involving a yet-to-be-identified supposed staff of the EFCC against a Sectional Head,” he said.
He reiterated the sacrosanct nature of the EFCC’s core values, stating that they would always be upheld to maintain the Commission’s integrity.
In a related development, the EFCC warned the public about the activities of impersonators and blackmailers exploiting the name of the Executive Chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects under investigation.
Two alleged members of a syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja. They were accused of contacting a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Kaka, and demanding $1 million, falsely claiming it was for “soft landing” from a non-existent investigation.
The EFCC emphasized that such unscrupulous individuals remain at large and cautioned the public against falling victim to their schemes.
“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity that cannot be swayed by monetary influences,” Oyewale stated. “The public is enjoined to always report such disreputable elements to the Commission.”
The EFCC also revealed that some suspects under investigation for economic and financial crimes are resorting to blackmail after failing to compromise their investigators. The Commission advised the public to disregard such attempts, labeling them as desperate measures to discredit its officers.
Oyewale concluded by assuring Nigerians of the EFCC’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption. “The Commission will continue to hold its officers to the highest standards of integrity while ensuring that economic and financial crimes are prosecuted without fear or favor,” he said.
