The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed more than 40 staff members for corruption and financial malpractice in the past three years, its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed.
Olukoyede made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during a media interactive session held at the commission’s headquarters to mark his three-year stewardship.
According to him, about five EFCC officials are currently facing prosecution over alleged corrupt practices, while case files involving other affected personnel are being prepared for prosecution.
“In the past two and a half to three years of my service, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice. More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment,” he said.
The EFCC chairman stressed that officials found guilty of misconduct within the commission must be subjected to the same accountability standards imposed on members of the public accused of corruption.
“You can follow those cases in court; they are public knowledge.
“If that is what people do in other agencies and I arrest them, I investigate them, I prosecute them, why must I just dismiss you if you do it within our own system and I’m not prosecuting you?” he asked.
Olukoyede said the disciplinary measures were part of efforts to ensure that EFCC personnel maintained the highest standards of integrity while fighting corruption.
“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.
As part of the commission’s efforts to strengthen internal accountability, Olukoyede also announced the renaming of its former Internal Affairs Department to the Department of Ethics and Integrity.
He said the move was part of the EFCC’s broader drive for “internal cleansing.”
The chairman further disclosed that the commission had introduced a gift policy aimed at promoting transparency and preventing conflicts of interest among its personnel.
