Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the agency is currently investigating 18 serving Governors across Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that he made the revelation during a sensitisation programme in Lagos on Friday, which was aimed at educating stakeholders, including filmmakers and bureau de change operators on the dangers of naira abuse and mutilation.
Olukoyede explained that although the EFCC does not necessarily wait for public officials to leave office before initiating investigations, certain actions can only be taken once their tenure ends.
He said, “We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate.”
“As I’m talking to you, l’m investigating about 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave (office), we will go to the next level.“
Sharing an anecdote from a past case, Olukoyede recounted the arrest of a former Nigerian governor in the United Kingdom shortly after he handed over power.
He said the ex-Governor fled to London the day after his tenure ended, hoping to evade the EFCC.
While celebrating his birthday at a hotel in London, the politician allegedly began spraying £10 and £50 notes during the party. This unusual display alarmed the hotel staff.
The hotel manager, who had never seen such behavior, reportedly called emergency services, suspecting the man might be mentally unstable.
When officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived, they attempted to detain the ex-governor and place him in an ambulance.
According to Olukoyede, the situation was only de-escalated after his associates, including two sitting Nigerian Governors, intervened and explained that the former he was not mentally ill.
