The Nigerian anti‑corruption body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), announced that it has terminated the employment of more than forty officials in the past three years due to corruption and financial misconduct.
Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who assumed leadership in October 2023, revealed the figures during a briefing in the capital that highlighted the agency’s achievements under his stewardship.
He explained that some of the dismissed personnel are already under prosecution, while the commission is preparing case files for others. The EFCC’s mandate covers fraud, money laundering, and corruption, and it has historically pursued cases against politicians, public officers, and business leaders.
Olukoyede recounted that he has fired over forty staff during his tenure, stressing a commitment to clean and ethical management. He also announced that the agency’s internal unit has been renamed the Department of Ethics and Integrity and that a new policy on gifts and hospitality now requires officers to declare gifts above a set threshold, including those from relatives abroad.
“Clean hands are essential for fighting corruption,” he said, emphasizing that the commission must be free from corruption itself.
While the EFCC declined to provide details of the individual corruption cases, it highlighted its broader achievements, such as recovering 1.23 trillion naira ($925 m) and securing a conviction rate above 75 % in the period from October 2023 to July 2026.
The agency filed 14 476 cases in court, presenting 10 872 convictions, and recorded 1 370 convictions from 1 889 filed cases in the first half of 2026 alone. These numbers underscore a strategy focused on evidence‑driven prosecution.
Additional data shared at the briefing showed an increasing focus on cyber‑crime and fraud cases, suggesting a shift in the EFCC’s priorities away from high‑profile corruption alone.
