In an ironical twist, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently sacked 27 of its operatives for fraudulent activities and misconduct. This is surprising because the EFCC personnel are specially recruited to tackle fraudsters. But when the anti-corruption officers, turn out to be corrupt, then there is every cause to worry.
The EFCC had in a statement said the sacking of the affected officers in 2024 was in line with its quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements. The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, was quoted to have said that the Commission was committed to zero tolerance for corruption and warned that no officer was immune to disciplinary measures. “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,” the statement issued by Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, noted.
A few days after the dismissal of the 27 personnel, authorities of the EFCC also detained 10 officers of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission over investigation of some missing items involving them. The officers could not account for the theft of some operational items. Some media reports indicated that the suspects allegedly broke into the EFCC’s exhibit room and stole foreign currency, gold items and other exhibits. According to the anti-graft agency, investigators are making good progress and those found culpable would be subjected to internal disciplinary processes.
Besides, the EFCC is also battling with impersonators who reportedly use the name of Olukoyede to extort high-profile suspects who are under the radar of the Commission. Already, one Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim have been arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, for allegedly demanding $1million from a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Kaka, for Mr. Olukoyede to give him soft landing on a phantom investigation. The Commission is worried that suspects being investigated for some economic and financial crimes are in the habit of hatching plans to blackmail officers of the Commission.
However, the EFCC has ensured the arrest, prosecution and jailing of some fraudsters in recent times. On December 31, 2024, the anti-graft agency secured the conviction of one Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, also known as Young Billionaire, for cheating by impersonation and money laundering. Nkwocha, who was arrested in August 2024 at the Lugbe area of Abuja, fraudulently obtained a cumulative sum of $345,000 from Linda Wheeler, an American. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N2million. He is also to forfeit all he fraudulently amassed to the government.
Earlier in January 2025, the Commission arrested 105 members of suspected syndicate of internet fraudsters in Abuja. These suspects, comprising four Chinese and 101 Nigerians, reportedly specialize in hotel review job scam, targeting mostly victims from the United Kingdom (UK). Hotel review job scam is said to be an internet-related fraud that is globally entrenched but is newly appearing on the Nigerian space. The Chinese reportedly recruit local and computer-savvy Nigerians as Customer Service Representatives who work on a prepared template of criminality online. This type of fraud is targeted at foreigners, especially victims in Europe and other parts of the world. The EFCC said it was working with other law enforcement agencies across the world to dig deeper into the global dimension of this crime. On December 10, 2024, the Commission said it had similarly arrested 792 suspected investment and internet fraudsters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The leadership of the EFCC deserves commendation for its recent frontal battle against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria, especially its efforts to sanitize its workforce. The dismissal of 27 operatives by the Olukoyede-led Commission is rare and appears to be the first of such high number of staff being dismissed for fraud since the inception of the agency in 2002.
The personnel of the anti-graft agency are supposed to be above board. But the problem in Nigeria is that when you fight corruption, the monster fights back more ferociously. It is hoped that the personnel of the Commission would have learnt a lesson or two from the disciplinary actions taken against their tainted colleagues.
We urge the authorities of the agency to remain steadfast in their commitment to instill discipline among staff and rid the agency of corruption. They should be thorough in the recruitment process and ensure that proper background checks are done before recruiting anybody to work for the Commission.