Nigeria Anti-Corruption Agency Sacks 40 Staff Members

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed more than 40 employees for alleged corruption and financial misconduct over the past three years. Several former staff members are already facing prosecution, and case files are being prepared against others.

EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede said the dismissals were part of efforts to strengthen accountability within an agency tasked with investigating corruption, fraud and money laundering. The commission has also introduced reforms, including renaming its Department of Internal Affairs to the Department of Ethics and Integrity and adopting a policy requiring officers to declare certain gifts and hospitality in an effort to prevent conflicts of interest.

Olukoyede said the agency had also recorded significant results since he took office in October 2023, recovering 1.23 trillion naira and securing more than 10,000 convictions. However, the figures also show that the EFCC is increasingly dealing with cybercrime and fraud cases rather than focusing solely on corruption involving high-profile public officials.