EFCC Sacks 27 Officers Over Fraudulent Activities And Misconduct.
In a bold move to uphold integrity, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed 27 officers from its ranks in 2024, as announced by the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement released on Monday in Abuja.
The dismissed officers were found guilty of various offences, including fraudulent activities and misconduct, as per the statement. Their removal was recommended by the EFCC’s Staff Disciplinary Committee and subsequently ratified by the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
The statement underscored Mr. Olukoyede’s firm stance on maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption within the EFCC. He was quoted as warning that no officer, regardless of position, is above disciplinary action. “Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the Commission would always be investigated,” he stated, highlighting a recent case involving a $400,000 claim against a Sectional Head by an unidentified staff member, which underscores the Commission’s commitment to its core values.
Additionally, the EFCC issued a public alert regarding impersonators and blackmailers exploiting the name of the Executive Chairman to extort money from prominent suspects under investigation. The statement detailed the recent arraignment of two individuals, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie at the FCT High Court in Abuja. These individuals allegedly attempted to extort $1 million from former Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Kaka, under the false pretext of securing leniency in a non-existent investigation. The EFCC emphasized that such fraudulent activities are still at large, urging the public to report any encounters with these disreputable elements.
“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity that cannot be swayed by monetary influences,” the statement reiterated, encouraging citizens to cooperate with the Commission in maintaining its ethical standards.
Furthermore, the EFCC acknowledged the existence of orchestrated attempts to blackmail its officers. “Suspects being investigated for economic and financial crimes, who have failed to compromise their investigators, would always clutch at any straw,” Oyewale explained, advising that such blackmail attempts should be ignored.
This action by the EFCC serves as a clear message of its dedication to self-regulation and the eradication of corruption not only in the broader society but also within its own ranks.
