By Attah Ede
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that over 40 staff members of the commission have been sacked for engaging in corruption and financial malpractice since he assumed office.
He disclosed that more than five of the dismissed officers are currently being prosecuted, while case files involving others are being prepared for prosecution.
The EFCC chairman announced this on Monday during a briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on its activities under his leadership.
According to him, in the past two and a half to three years of his tenure, he had directed the dismissal of over 40 staff members on account of corruption and financial malpractice.
He stated that more than five of them are currently facing prosecution.
He said the commission would not shield its personnel from prosecution when they are found to have engaged in the same corrupt practices the EFCC investigates among members of the public.
“Because if that is what people do in other agencies and I arrest them, I investigate them, I prosecute them, why must I just dismiss you if you do it within our own system and I’m not prosecuting you?” he asked.
Olukoyede said some of the affected personnel were already facing trial, while the commission was preparing case files against others.
The EFCC chairman also disclosed that the commission had renamed its former Department of Internal Affairs as the Department of Ethics and Integrity as part of measures to strengthen internal accountability.
According to him, the change was intended to reflect the commission’s commitment to what he described as “internal cleansing.”
Olukoyede further revealed that the commission had developed a gift policy for its personnel to strengthen transparency and accountability among officers.
“Under my leadership, all staff will now be required to declare assets above a specified threshold, including gifts received from relatives abroad.
“The commission will also determine the categories of gifts every officer of the commission can accept. The policy is aimed at ensuring officers can account for their means of livelihood and standard of living.
“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” Olukoyede said.
