By Emma Peter, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed more than 40 of its personnel over allegations of corruption and financial malpractice in the past three years, Chairman Ola Olukoyede has disclosed.
Olukoyede made the disclosure on Monday at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja during a briefing on the achievements of the anti-graft agency under his leadership.
According to him, the affected personnel were removed from the commission after being found to have engaged in corrupt practices or financial misconduct.
He further revealed that more than five of the dismissed officers are currently facing prosecution, while case files involving some others are being prepared for possible prosecution.
Olukoyede said the EFCC would not tolerate a situation where its personnel engage in the same acts of corruption for which the commission investigates and prosecutes members of the public.
He stressed that disciplinary measures within the commission must go beyond dismissal, arguing that personnel found to have committed criminal offences should also face the law.
The EFCC chairman said the cases already before the courts were matters of public record and could be followed through the judicial process.
As part of efforts 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 new name reflected the commission’s renewed emphasis on internal discipline, ethical conduct and what he described as “internal cleansing.”
The chairman also announced the development of a gift policy for EFCC personnel. Under the policy, officers would be required to declare gifts above a prescribed value, including gifts received from relatives living abroad.
Olukoyede said the policy was designed to ensure that personnel could adequately account for their assets, sources of income and standards of living.
He warned EFCC officers that those entrusted with fighting corruption must maintain high ethical standards and ensure that their personal conduct does not undermine the credibility of the commission.
“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.
