EFCC Investigating 18 Sitting Governors – Ola Olukoyede

Thhe chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has revealed that the agency is currently investigating 18 sitting governors for corruption-related offences.

Speaking at a sensitisation programme in Lagos on Friday, Olukoyede explained that although these governors are still in office, the EFCC will take further action against them once their terms end.

The event was aimed at educating various groups, including filmmakers and bureau de change operators, on the dangers of abusing or mishandling the naira.

During a question and answer session, Olukoyede shared an incident involving a former governor who tried to escape prosecution by fleeing to the UK the day after he left office.

He said the ex-governor threw a lavish birthday party at a London hotel and began spraying £50 and £10 notes during the celebration.

According to him, the hotel manager, shocked by the scene and thinking the man was mentally unstable, called emergency services.

Olukoyede emphasized that the EFCC doesn’t wait until politicians leave office to begin investigations, noting that the agency is already gathering evidence against several serving governors.

“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,” he 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.”

KanyiDaily recalls that a gospel singer and eight other persons recently arrested by the EFCC, were sentenced to prison in Kwara for crimes related to internet fraud, conspiracy, and illegal handling of funds.