EFCC Dismisses Over 40 Staff in 3 Years Over Corruption, Says Chairman
By Victor Idajili
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has fired more than 40 of its personnel in the last two and a half years over allegations of corruption and financial misconduct.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during an engagement with media executives and journalists.
According to him, the sackings are part of efforts to protect the integrity of the commission and ensure staff lead by example in the fight against graft.
“In the past two and a half years or three years of my service, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice,” Olukoyede said.
He added that more than five of the dismissed officers are currently being prosecuted in court, while case files for others are being prepared.
“More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment. You can follow those cases in court; they are public knowledge,” he stated.
To tighten internal controls, Olukoyede said the commission has introduced a gift policy that will regulate what staff can accept and require them to declare assets above a certain threshold, including gifts from relatives abroad.
The commission will also specify categories and values of gifts that personnel are permitted to receive. The goal, he said, is to ensure staff can account for their income and lifestyle.
The former Department of Internal Affairs has also been renamed the Department of Ethics and Integrity to reinforce internal discipline.
Olukoyede warned that the EFCC cannot credibly fight corruption if its own personnel are involved in it.
The chairman also gave an update on recoveries. Between October 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026, the EFCC recovered N1.23 trillion, $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million.
He broke it down further: about N397.26 billion, or 33% of the naira recoveries, went directly to the Federal Government. The remaining N836.34 billion, or 67%, was recovered on behalf of MDAs, state revenue services, companies, individuals and foreign victims.
On tax-related recoveries, the commission said its work helped mobilize about N288.1 billion for government. That includes N173.2 billion in federal taxes and N114.9 billion for state revenue services.
“This is fiscal value recovered through enforcement of existing obligations, not through the imposition of new taxes,” Olukoyede explained.
The commission also recovered about N257.2 billion for federal ministries, departments and agencies.
On disbursement, Olukoyede said N661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries. Of the naira amount, N325.35 billion went directly to individuals and corporate bodies, while N335.97 billion was paid to MDAs, the Nigerian Revenue Service and state internal revenue services, among others.
