EFCC probes 18 serving governors for corruption

EFCC probes 18 serving governors for corruption

Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has revealed that the agency is actively investigating 18 sitting governors over corruption-related offenses.

Speaking at a public awareness event held in Lagos on Friday, July 18, Olukoyede explained that while the investigations are ongoing, the EFCC will wait until the governors’ terms in office expire before taking formal action.

The sensitisation programme was aimed at engaging key stakeholders, including Nollywood filmmakers and bureau de change operators, on the dangers and consequences of currency abuse and naira mutilation.

During a Question and Answer session, Olukoyede recounted an incident involving a former Nigerian governor who was arrested in the United Kingdom (UK) after a hotel manager mistook him for someone mentally unstable due to his reckless spraying of pounds.

READ ALSO:

• SunTrust: Witness confirms receiving $12m in cash for transfer to Aisha Achimugu
• Makinde, wife bagged chieftaincy titles in Akure
• We saw plastic bottles filled with human flesh, blood in his house – Community leaders tell court

According to him, the governor had left Nigeria just a day after handing over power.

“I will give you an experience we had in EFCC. There was a time in this country when we were investigating a governor. We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate,” Olukoyede said.

“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.

“This governor was investigated while he was in office. Immediately, he finished his tenure, the following day, he took off to England to avoid the arrest of EFCC.

“Coincidentally, that week happens to be his birthday. He organised a birthday party in the hotel where he was staying.

“While the party was going on, he started spraying pounds, 50 bills and 10 bills. So the manager of the hotel was called. He came down and saw the former governor spraying pounds. He had never seen such a thing in his life so he had to call 911.

“When the Metropolitan Police came, he asked that they should help arrest the former governor. The ex-governor was arrested and they wanted to put him in an ambulance.

“The people, his friends, colleagues, and two governors , who went to London to celebrate with him had to intervene. They said the ex-governor was not a mad man because the hotel manager thought he was mad,” he added.

EFCC probes 18 serving governors for corruption