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EFCC Sacks 27 Corrupt Officers…Affirms Nobody is Immune to Disciplinary Action

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it dismissed 27 of its officers last year for misconduct and fraudulent activities.

The anti-graft agency also said it was investigating “a trending $400,000 claim of a yet-to-be-identified supposed staff of the EFCC against a Sectional Head.”

The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said the dismissals followed recommendations from the EFCC Staff Disciplinary Committee, which were ratified by the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

“In its quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission dismissed 27 officers from its workforce in 2024,” Oyewale said. “Their dismissal, following the recommendation of the Staff Disciplinary Committee of the EFCC, was ratified by the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.”

The statement quoted the EFCC Chairman as reaffirming the commission’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, emphasising that no officer is immune to disciplinary action.

He also assured the public that all allegations against EFCC staff would be thoroughly investigated, including a trending claim involving $400,000 against a Sectional Head by a supposed EFCC staff member.

“The core values of the commission remain sacrosanct and will always be upheld,” Olukoyede said, reiterating the commission’s commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability at all levels.

In addition, the EFCC issued a warning to the public about impersonators and blackmailers exploiting the name of its chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects under investigation.

“The commission also wishes to alert the public to 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,” the statement read.

The EFCC revealed that two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The pair allegedly contacted a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, and demanded $1m to secure a “soft landing” in a non-existent investigation.

The commission noted that similar criminal elements are still at large and urged the public to report such individuals.

Oyewale further emphasised that EFCC Chairman is a man of integrity who cannot be influenced by monetary offers.

“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity who cannot be swayed by monetary influences. The public is enjoined to report such disreputable elements to the commission.”

The EFCC is also aware of attempts to blackmail its officers through unscrupulous means.

“Suspects under investigation for economic and financial crimes, who have failed to compromise their investigators, often resort to blackmail. These blackmailers should not be given any attention,” Oyewale added.

Just In: President Tinubu Appoints Ola Olukoyede as EFCC Chairman

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

This comes nearly four months after he suspended the erstwhile anti-graft agency chief, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa.

“Mr. Olukayode’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read on Thursday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new EFCC. Chairman and Secretary of the Commission.’

Olukoyede is a lawyer with over 22 years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence.

He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023). As such, he fulfills the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.

Below are key things to know about the new EFCC boss:

Olukoyede was born in Ikere-Ekiti on October 14, 1969.

The new anti-graft agency chair is an indigene of Ekiti State.

He is an alumnus of Lagos State University; University of Lagos; Institute of Arbitration ICC – Paris, France and University of Harvard (Kennedy School of Executive Education).

He is an experienced lawyer specialised in compliance management, corporate intelligence, and fraud management.

Olukoyede has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018).

He is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

In same vein President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the EFCC for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university.

He began his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. From there, he went into banking, including successful stints at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.

The president tasked the new leadership of the commission to justify the confidence given to them in this important national assignment as a newly invigorated war on corruption undertaken through a reformed institutional architecture in the anti-corruption sector remains a central pillar of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.

EFCC DECLARES RIVERS ACCOUNTANT GENERAL, SIMINAYI, 3 OTHER STATE OFFICIALS WANTED OVER ALLEGED N117B FRAUD

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed four Rivers State Government officials on its Wanted List. Among them is Mr Fubara Siminayi, the accountant General of Rivers State.
The officials, comprising three men and one woman, were declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office to the tune of N117billion.

The four officials are among the 59 suspects wanted by the EFCC for offences ranging from money laundering to obtaining money by false pretence, fraud, internet-related offences and issuance of dud cheques.

The four Rivers government officials include Fubara Siminayi, the accountant General of Rivers State, Lekia V. Bukpor, Dagogo Rodderick Abere, and the only woman among them, Harrisonba Bessi Princewill, a cashier.
According to the EFCC, the suspects, “in their capacity as signatories to the Rivers State Government account, are alleged to have acted as proxies to several government officials, conspired and fraudulently withdrew and diverted the sum between 2015 and 2018.”

It added that all the suspects hailed from Rivers State and urged members of the public with useful information as to their whereabouts to contact any of the Commission’s offices or the nearest police station or other security agencies.

EFCC Arrests Socialite Obi Cubana

Obi Cubana made headlines earlier in the year after a lavish burial ceremony for his mother.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a socialite Obinna Iyiegbu, better known as Obi Cubana.

He is being questioned at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He arrived at the EFCC office around noon on Monday.

Although details of allegations against the Anambra-born tycoon are still sketchy, a source told Channels Television that his case borders on alleged money laundering and tax fraud.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren said he was yet to be briefed on the development.

Earlier in the year, the Anambra born businessman made headlines and trended on social media following a lavish burial ceremony for his late mother in the South East state.

His meteoric rise to fame has also seen him feature in comedy skits.