The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed more than 40 of its personnel over alleged corruption and financial misconduct in the last three years.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a media interaction marking his third year in office at the commission.
Olukoyede said about five other officials were currently facing prosecution over alleged corrupt practices, while case files involving some others were being prepared for court.
He said the disciplinary measures were necessary to ensure that EFCC officials were subjected to the same accountability standards the agency imposed on members of the public investigated for financial crimes.
The chairman said, “You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices.”
He also announced the renaming of the commission’s former Internal Affairs Department to the Department of Ethics and Integrity as part of measures to strengthen internal accountability.
According to him, the EFCC has introduced a gift policy requiring personnel to declare gifts above a specified value and disclose their sources of income where necessary, including gifts received from relatives and friends within and outside Nigeria.
Olukoyede further advocated stronger institutional reforms and policies to prevent corruption, arguing that law enforcement alone could not end financial crimes.
He also urged the media and civil society organisations to intensify their watchdog roles.
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