The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed more than 40 of its personnel over corruption and financial malpractice since Ola Olukoyede assumed office as Chairman of the anti-graft agency.
Olukoyede disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a briefing on the activities and achievements of the commission under his leadership.
According to him, more than five of the dismissed officers are currently facing prosecution, while the EFCC is preparing case files against others for possible prosecution.
The EFCC chairman said the commission would not shield its personnel from accountability, insisting that officers responsible for enforcing anti-corruption laws must be held to the same standards they demand of members of the public.
Olukoyede questioned why EFCC personnel accused of corruption should only be dismissed when similar offences committed by members of the public ordinarily attract investigation and prosecution.
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He said some of the affected officers were already standing trial, while prosecution proceedings were being initiated against others.
As part of measures to strengthen internal accountability, Olukoyede disclosed that the commission had renamed its former Department of Internal Affairs as the Department of Ethics and Integrity.
He said the restructuring was aimed at strengthening internal oversight and promoting what he described as an “internal cleansing” within the commission.
The EFCC has also introduced a gift policy requiring personnel to declare gifts above a specified threshold, including gifts received from relatives abroad.
Olukoyede said the policy would help the commission monitor the sources of officers’ income, assets and standard of living while establishing clear guidelines on gifts that personnel may legitimately accept.
He stressed that EFCC officers must maintain personal integrity if they are to effectively fight corruption in the country.
“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he said.
