The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has announced the dismissal of 27 officers from its workforce in 2024.
The anti-graft agency said in a statement that the sack was part of its quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements.
In the statement by the Head of the media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, the Commission said that the officers were dismissed for various offences bordering on fraudulent activities and misconduct.
Their dismissal was effected from the recommendation of the staff Disciplinary Committee, and ratified by the Executive Chairman, of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede.
Olukoyede was quoted as reiterating the commitment of the Commission to zero tolerance for corruption, warning that no officer is immune to disciplinary measures.
“Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the Commission would always be investigated, including a trending $400,000 claim of a yet-to-be-identified supposed staff of the EFCC against a Sectional Head.
“The core values of the Commission are sacrosanct and would always be held in optimal regard at all times.”
The EFCC also alerted the public about the sinister activities of impersonators and blackmailers using the name of its Executive Chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects being investigated by the EFCC.
The Commission said that two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja for allegedly contacting a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Kaka and demanding $1million from him for “Olukoyede to give him soft landing” on a non-existing investigation.
“Such characters are still on the loose seeking victims.
“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity that cannot be swayed by monetary influences. The public is enjoined to always report such disreputable elements to the Commission.
“Additionally, the EFCC is aware of moves being hatched in some quarters to blackmail officers of the Commission through unwholesome means. Suspects being investigated for some economic and financial crimes who have failed to compromise their investigators would always clutch at any straw. Such blackmailers should not be accorded any form of attention,” EFCC spokesman said.