EFCC Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Theft of Nigeria’s Public Funds

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the scale of alleged public-sector corruption in Nigeria, saying some public officers take national resources “every minute”.

Olukoyede made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at an event held to mark the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi.

The EFCC chairman said the commission receives more than 20,000 petitions relating to public corruption annually, describing the cases as disturbing.

He said the volume of petitions and the details contained in some of the commission’s case files showed the extent of alleged misuse of public funds and national resources.

Olukoyede said Nigerians were ultimately the victims of fraudulent activities involving public resources and called for greater collective efforts to promote accountability in public office.

He said some public servants allegedly enter office with less than ₦100,000 in their bank accounts but leave after three or four years with millions of naira and dollars traced to them.

According to the EFCC chairman, investigators have also encountered cases involving public officials who allegedly acquired large numbers of properties while in office.

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He cited instances where investigators allegedly traced 50 or even 200 houses to individuals, questioning how Nigeria could achieve meaningful development if public resources were diverted on such a scale.

Olukoyede stressed that public officials should be able to account for their activities and finances while in office, identifying transparency and accountability as essential principles of public service.

The EFCC chairman’s remarks came amid the commission’s ongoing investigations, prosecutions and asset recovery activities involving suspected economic and financial crimes.

Olukoyede has previously disclosed figures showing the scale of the commission’s recent workload, including thousands of petitions, investigations and court cases.

The commission has also reported substantial recoveries of funds and assets linked to suspected proceeds of crime during his tenure.

At the Abuja event, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, also identified societal tolerance and weaknesses in government systems as factors that allow corruption to persist.

Aliyu called for stronger integrity education in primary and secondary schools, saying young Nigerians should be taught the importance of honesty, accountability and responsible citizenship.

He specifically urged stakeholders to engage Generation Z and Generation Alpha on the need to embrace integrity.

The event brought together members of the judiciary and legal profession, public office holders, civil society organisations, academics and other stakeholders.

Olukoyede’s comments add to the EFCC’s continuing campaign for stronger accountability in public service, as the commission pursues investigations and prosecutions involving suspected economic and financial crimes.

EFCC Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Theft of Nigeria’s Public Funds

Abia Police Arrest 20-Year-Old, Recover Gun, Suspected Cannabis, Three Motorcycles

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man, Ebuka Nwakerindu, in connection with alleged motorcycle theft and recovered a locally made gun, a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, and three motorcycles during an operation in the state.

Nwakerindu, a resident of Umuokoromiri Village in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, was arrested on Thursday, September 24, following a raid by operatives of the police Anti-Kidnapping Unit at a suspected criminal hideout in Onitsha Ngwa, Obingwa Local Government Area.

The operation was conducted on Wednesday, September 23, following what the police described as actionable intelligence about criminal activities in the area.

According to the Abia Police Command, several suspects fled when they sighted the operatives during the raid.

The police said the fleeing suspects abandoned a locally made single-barrel long gun and a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be cannabis.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Nwakerindu the following day.

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The command alleged that the suspect was involved in the theft and resale of motorcycles, adding that three motorcycles suspected to have been stolen were recovered from him.

The recovered firearm, suspected cannabis and motorcycles have been taken into police custody as exhibits while investigations continue.

The police said efforts were also underway to identify and arrest the other suspects who escaped during the operation.

The command said Nwakerindu would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations, in accordance with applicable laws.

The operation was carried out under the direction of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, as part of the command’s intelligence-led approach to tackling criminal activities across Abia State.

The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive crime prevention, intelligence-led policing and the protection of lives and property.

The latest operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt suspected criminal networks involved in motorcycle theft, illegal firearms and illicit drug activities in the state.

The police have not disclosed the identities of the other suspects who escaped from the hideout or stated whether they are wanted in connection with other crimes.

Investigators are expected to establish the ownership of the recovered motorcycles, determine the source of the suspected cannabis and establish how the locally made firearm came to be in the possession of the suspects.

Nwakerindu remains in police custody pending the conclusion of the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.

Abia Police Arrest 20-Year-Old, Recover Gun, Suspected Cannabis, Three Motorcycles

MURIC Condemns NMDPRA Over Fresh 830,000-Tonne Petrol Import Approval

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the decision of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to approve the importation of 830,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, for the fourth quarter of 2026.

MURIC described the approval as “unnecessary, wasteful, counterproductive, regressive and unpatriotic”, arguing that Nigeria should be giving greater priority to its growing domestic refining capacity, particularly the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

In a statement issued on Thursday, September 24, 2026, the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, questioned the rationale behind continued petrol imports at a time when local refining capacity has expanded significantly.

The NMDPRA recently approved the import permits for six major petroleum marketers ahead of the final quarter of the year. The beneficiaries reportedly include Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, Pinnacle Oil and Bono Energy.

According to MURIC, the latest development is difficult to reconcile with the increasing contribution of domestic refineries to Nigeria’s petrol supply.

“MURIC considers this move as unnecessary, wasteful, counterproductive, regressive and unpatriotic. We therefore condemn it in the strongest terms,” Akintola said.

The group argued that the decision was particularly troubling because of the reported capacity of the Dangote Refinery to supply the Nigerian market.

MURIC said the refinery had repeatedly expressed concern over continued petrol imports, despite its ability to produce substantial volumes of PMS for domestic consumption.

In August, Dangote Refinery said the continued arrival of imported petrol was creating uncertainty in its production planning and inventory management. The refinery said imported PMS accounted for about 43 per cent of the petrol supplied to Nigeria in July and maintained that it had sufficient capacity to meet and exceed domestic requirements.

MURIC therefore questioned why Nigeria would continue importing a product that a major Nigerian refinery is capable of producing.

“Dangote refinery exports fuel to foreign countries including Europe. It should be our pride. How can Nigerian petroleum authorities be importing the same fuel from outside?” the group asked.

The organisation added: “This is not rocket science. It is simple logic. It doesn’t add up. It is laughable. NMDPRA is taking coal to Newcastle.”

However, the NMDPRA has explained that the latest approvals are intended to prevent possible supply shortages during the fourth quarter, particularly as demand is expected to rise during the Christmas and end-of-year travel period. A spokesperson for the authority confirmed that the permits were approved to ensure that there were no supply gaps.

The development has also generated different reactions within the petroleum industry.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said the regulator was acting within its statutory responsibility by issuing the import licences, while stressing that the real issue would be whether the imported products could compete favourably with locally refined petrol.

IPMAN said the imports could benefit consumers if the landed cost was lower than the price of locally refined petrol.

MURIC, however, maintained that government agencies should work more closely with local refineries instead of continuing to rely on imported petroleum products.

The organisation also cited the need to encourage domestic investment, reduce dependence on foreign refined products and maximise the economic benefits of Nigeria’s refining capacity.

The latest approval comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between Dangote Refinery and the petroleum regulator over the issuance of petrol import licences. Dangote has challenged the continued granting of such licences, arguing that imports should not be encouraged where domestic supply is sufficient. The case remains before the courts.

Available NMDPRA data also show that domestic refineries have become increasingly important to Nigeria’s petrol supply. In the first quarter of 2026, domestic refineries reportedly accounted for about 76.7 per cent of total petrol supply, while petrol imports fell significantly compared with the previous year.

MURIC urged the NMDPRA and other agencies in the petroleum sector to review the continued importation of refined fuel and strengthen cooperation with Nigerian refineries.

“We expect NMDPRA and all other government agencies in the petroleum industry to cooperate with our local refineries. The importation of refined fuel should stop forthwith,” the group said.

The controversy is likely to keep attention focused on the balance between competition, fuel security and the protection of Nigeria’s emerging domestic refining industry, particularly as the country enters the final quarter of 2026.Suggested alternative headlines:

MURIC Condemns NMDPRA Over Fresh 830,000-Tonne Petrol Import Approval