The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that “18 sitting governors are currently under investigation” by the anti-graft agency for various alleged financial infractions.
Olukoyede made this significant disclosure on Friday during a public awareness programme held in Lagos, which focused on addressing the misuse and abuse of the Nigerian naira.
The anti-corruption chief clarified that while the agency initiates investigations into public officials even while they are in office, “certain actions are only taken once they vacate their positions due to constitutional limitations.”
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“We don’t wait until governors complete their tenure before we begin our work. Right now, the EFCC is actively investigating 18 sitting governors. Once their tenures are over, we will proceed accordingly,” he stated.
Olukoyede also shared a striking anecdote illustrating the lengths some former officials go to evade justice. He recounted a case involving a former Nigerian governor who “fled the country immediately after handing over power to evade EFCC arrest.” The ex-governor, he said, traveled to the United Kingdom, where he hosted a lavish birthday party in a hotel.
During the celebration, the former governor allegedly “began spraying British pounds in denominations of £10 and £50, which startled the hotel staff.” Concerned by the unusual behavior, the hotel manager contacted emergency services, fearing the guest might be mentally unstable.
“When the Metropolitan Police arrived, they prepared to detain him, even calling an ambulance, believing they were dealing with a psychiatric episode,” Olukoyede said.
He added that two other Nigerian governors and close associates of the former governor, who had traveled to the UK for the event, intervened and clarified the situation to the authorities.
“The hotel manager had never seen such conduct before and mistook it for a sign of mental distress. It was only after his friends explained that the situation was defused,” Olukoyede noted.
, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that "18 sitting governors are currently under investigation" by the anti-graft agency for various alleged financial infractions.){kind=link}