NIGERIA: EFCC Dismisses 27 Officers In 2024 Over Fraudulent Activities

By Munyal Manunyi 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its quest towards sanitising the agency, dismissed 27 seven of its officers alleged to be involved in fraud.

The information was revealed in a press statement issued by the Commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale on Monday, saying the officers were dismissed for various offences bordering on fraudulent activities and misconduct.

Oyewale said their dismissal came following the recommendation of the staff Disciplinary Committee of the EFCC, and being ratified by the Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

He also highlighted that: “Two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja for allegedly contacting a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Kaka and demanding $1million from him for “Olukoyede to give him soft landing” on a non-existing investigation. Such characters are still on the loose seeking victims.”

Oyewale also explained that the EFCC is aware of moves being hatched in some quarters to blackmail officers of the Commission through unwholesome means.

He said “suspects being investigated for some economic and financial crimes who have failed to compromise their investigators would always clutch at any straw. Such blackmailers should not be accorded any form of attention.”

He further noted that the EFCC chairman is committed to fight corruption, showing Zero tolerance for corrupt person’s.

“Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the Commission would always be investigated, including a trending $400,000 claim of a yet-to-be-identified supposed staff of the EFCC against a Sectional Head.

“The core values of the Commission are sacrosanct and would always be held in optimal regard at all times,” Oyewale echoed the Chairman’s concern.

“The Commission also wishes to alert the public of the sinister activities of impersonators and blackmailers using the name of its Executive Chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects being investigated by the EFCC.

“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity that cannot be swayed by monetary influences. The public is enjoined to always report such disreputable elements to the Commission,” he added.