The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has responded to public concerns regarding allegations of corruption within the agency.
In a recent interview with Channels Television on April 30, Olukoyede addressed claims that some EFCC operatives have been involved in unethical practices while carrying out their duties. These allegations had raised questions about the integrity of the EFCC and its commitment to combating corruption effectively.
Speaking candidly on the matter, Olukoyede emphasized the importance of integrity in the fight against corruption. He acknowledged the weight of the responsibility placed on the EFCC and its operatives, saying it is crucial that they operate from a position of integrity when handling cases of corruption and financial crimes. He stated: “It is important for me and my comrades in the EFCC that if we are going to fight corruption, we must fight it from the position of integrity.”
Olukoyede further explained that upon taking leadership of the EFCC, he and his team made it a priority to scrutinize the disciplinary records of all operatives and uncover any cases of misconduct. This was part of an internal reform effort aimed at ensuring that the agency’s staff remained trustworthy in their pursuit of justice. “We sank that into the minds of every operative in the EFCC, and we looked into records and the cases of those with pending disciplinary actions or infractions. We set up a disciplinary committee and found quite a number of them culpable,” Olukoyede said.
Following this review, 27 EFCC officials were reportedly dismissed for their involvement in misconduct. These individuals were found guilty of failing to uphold the integrity expected of them in their roles. “We reviewed it and agreed that those people should leave the system—and Nigerians knew that is exactly what we did,” he added. Olukoyede made it clear that the EFCC would not tolerate any form of dishonesty, corruption, or misconduct from its staff members.
“So far we have been able to weed out about 27 people that we have found their character not worthy of being part of this crusade,” Olukoyede continued, underscoring the agency’s efforts to maintain a strong, ethical workforce. He also revealed that there are still ongoing investigations into other EFCC officials who may be involved in similar misconduct, with appropriate actions and sanctions expected to follow once the investigations are completed.
Despite these ongoing reforms, Olukoyede acknowledged that it would be unrealistic to expect perfection from every member of the EFCC. He emphasized that while the agency is working hard to improve its internal processes, it is composed of human beings, and occasional errors or missteps could still occur. “I won’t sit here and say everybody has become a saint in the EFCC. That day will never come. People working in the EFCC are human beings and not spirits,” he said, addressing the inevitability of human imperfection within any organization.
Olukoyede pointed out that there will always be a tendency for individuals to misbehave, display overzealousness, or make mistakes, but he reassured Nigerians that any such instances of misconduct would be handled accordingly. He added: “There will be this propensity for people to misbehave, overzealousness and all that stuff.”
The EFCC Chairman also reiterated his commitment to ensuring accountability, promising that any staff member found guilty of such behavior would face the appropriate consequences. “The promise I have made to Nigerians is that as soon as we discover such characters, we will do something about them in line with our processes and the law,” Olukoyede stated, emphasizing the EFCC’s commitment to justice and transparency.
The statements from the EFCC Chairman come as the agency continues to face scrutiny in light of various allegations of corruption and misconduct. However, Olukoyede’s remarks also reflect a broader commitment to reform and to maintaining a high standard of ethics within the agency. See below;
I won't sit here and tell you that, so far, everyone is a saint in the EFCC. People working here are human beings, not spirits.
– Ola Olukoyede (Chairman, EFCC) #PoliticsToday pic.twitter.com/w6fQqWKRhW
— Channels Television (@channelstv) April 30, 2025