The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has terminated 27 personnel for alleged fraud and wrongdoing.
In a statement issued on Monday, EFCC spokeswoman Dele Oyewale said the firing was confirmed by the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
Oyewale stated that the disciplinary committee of the anti-graft agency recommended the action.
The EFCC spokeswoman stated that the agency is also investigating an accusation against a sectional head.
“Olukoyede reiterated the commitment of the commission to zero tolerance for corruption, warning that no officer is immune to disciplinary measures,” the statement reads in part.
“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 EFCC spokesperson added that some persons are using the name of the EFCC chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects being investigated by the agency.
“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, Abuja for allegedly contacting a former managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko and demanding $1 million from him for “Olukoyede to give him soft landing” on a non-existing investigation. Such characters are still on the loose seeking victims,” he said.
“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity that cannot be swayed by monetary influences. The public is enjoined to always report such disreputable elements to the commission.”
The anti-graft agency said it is also privy to plans “being hatched in some quarters to blackmail officers of the commission through unwholesome means”.
The EFCC claimed that people under investigation for economic and financial crimes were behind the purported blackmail operation.
