The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the anti-graft agency is currently investigating 18 serving governors over allegations of financial misconduct.
Olukoyede made this known during a recent sensitization programme, where he maintained that the EFCC does not wait until the end of a public officer’s tenure to commence investigations.
“As I’m talking to you, I’m investigating about 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave office, we will go to the next level,” he said.
He recounted a past case involving a former governor who fled to the United Kingdom a day after leaving office in an attempt to evade EFCC arrest. According to Olukoyede, the former governor’s behaviour in London drew suspicion, leading to an unusual confrontation.
“This ex-governor was celebrating his birthday at a UK hotel, where he was seen spraying £50 and £10 notes. The hotel manager thought he was mentally unstable and called 911,” Olukoyede said.
The EFCC boss narrated how the Metropolitan Police responded to the call and almost arrested the former governor until some of his colleagues including two sitting governors intervened to clarify the situation.
He used the incident to highlight the extravagant and suspicious lifestyles of some Nigerian public officials, urging the public to understand that the EFCC is committed to holding leaders accountable irrespective of their current office.
Olukoyede also warned that actions such as spraying money in public whether naira or foreign currency are considered financial crimes and cultural excuses would not justify them under the law.
