In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dismissed 27 officers for various offenses, including fraudulent activities and misconduct. The decision followed recommendations from the EFCC’s Staff Disciplinary Committee and was approved by the Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
Mr. Olukoyede emphasized the EFCC’s unwavering commitment to maintaining integrity and a zero-tolerance policy for corruption. He assured that all allegations against EFCC staff would be thoroughly investigated, including a recent claim involving $400,000 allegedly connected to a Sectional Head. He reiterated that the Commission’s core values remain fundamental and would always be upheld.
The EFCC also alerted the public about individuals impersonating the Executive Chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects under investigation.
Two individuals, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently charged in a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuebuzie. They allegedly contacted a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, and demanded $1 million, falsely claiming it would secure leniency in a nonexistent investigation. The EFCC noted that other members of such criminal syndicates remain at large, targeting unsuspecting victims.
The Commission described Mr. Olukoyede as a man of integrity who cannot be swayed by financial offers. It encouraged the public to report impersonators and other fraudulent actors to the EFCC.
Furthermore, the EFCC addressed attempts by certain individuals to undermine its officers through blackmail and false accusations. Some suspects under investigation, unable to influence their investigators, resort to these tactics. The public was urged to ignore such schemes and trust the EFCC’s integrity.
