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EFCC under fire for internal scandals and mismanagement of recovered assets

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is facing growing criticism and internal scrutiny following several alarming reports of theft and mismanagement of seized assets by some of its operatives.

This scandal has not only raised questions about the integrity of the anti-corruption agency but also about its ability to safeguard public trust.

EFCC personnel are alleged to have stolen cash, gold bars, and other assets that were meant to serve as evidence in ongoing cases, shaking public confidence in the agency’s ability to effectively combat corruption and safeguard national resources.

The EFCC, which was established to tackle financial crimes and corruption in Nigeria, has come under intense pressure after it was reported that officers within its ranks had been involved in fraudulent activities.

In 2024 alone, at least 27 EFCC officers were dismissed for various forms of misconduct, including theft and financial fraud.

The situation took a darker turn in January 2025 when a high-profile case of theft surfaced, involving a significant amount of money—$400,000—allegedly stolen by a sectional head.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that this claim was confirmed by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on January 6, 2025, who announced that an investigation was underway.

Just days after this announcement, the scandal deepened as 10 officers from the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Command were detained in connection with the disappearance of valuable operational items, including gold bars worth over ₦1 billion and cash amounting to between $350,000 and $400,000.

The theft of such significant assets, once considered safe under the EFCC’s supervision, prompted an internal investigation that raised even more alarm.

It was later revealed that one of the agency’s operatives at the Kaduna Zonal Office, identified as Polycarp, had been caught stealing over $30,000 in cash along with other exhibits.

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The growing number of thefts has caused considerable damage to the EFCC’s reputation.

Public confidence in the agency, which was supposed to be the nation’s leading force in the fight against corruption, has been severely undermined.

The EFCC has yet to comment on the theft in Kaduna, further fueling concerns about its ability to oversee its operations effectively and maintain internal discipline.

Critics have pointed out that the agency’s failure to implement stringent security measures and oversight mechanisms for managing recovered assets has led to these criminal acts.

A source from the security community, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the situation as “highly disappointing,” blaming the rising thefts on the poor economic conditions and the poverty experienced by many EFCC operatives.

However, the source also expressed frustration with the agency’s lack of safeguards to prevent such incidents.

“Allowing unchecked access to high-value items like cash and gold bars creates temptation,” the source noted.

“Such items should be stored in bank vaults or secured with multi-layered access controls within EFCC premises.”

The source recommended a set of measures to improve security, including requiring that access to exhibit rooms should involve the simultaneous presence of multiple credible officials, each holding a unique key to the room.

Furthermore, the source called for harsher penalties for those caught committing theft, with dismissal and prosecution seen as necessary deterrents to prevent further incidents.

The damage caused by these thefts extends far beyond the loss of physical assets.

The EFCC’s credibility as a national institution in the fight against corruption has been dealt a severe blow.

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Senior officials within the agency admitted that the scandal has led to significant reputational damage.

“Our chairman is transparent, which is why these issues are not being hidden. However, it’s giving us a bad name,” one official confessed, highlighting the difficult situation the agency now faces in regaining public trust.

Security analyst Yemi Adeyemi emphasized that the EFCC’s role in upholding the law required its operatives to maintain the highest levels of integrity.

“No excuse justifies tampering with evidence. The chairman must clean up his house,” Adeyemi said, pointing out that the widespread thefts within the agency threatened to undermine the very purpose for which the EFCC was established.

Criminologist Jackson Lekan-Ojo also weighed in on the issue, stating that officers caught stealing recovered assets should face severe consequences.

“Such misconduct undermines the credibility of the EFCC and the fight against corruption,” Lekan-Ojo asserted.

“When the agency entrusted with securing the country’s resources becomes complicit in corruption, it sets a dangerous precedent.”

In response to the increasing scandal, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyode has taken decisive action to address the crisis.

He ordered a thorough audit of all recovered assets across the agency’s zonal offices.

The audit is part of a broader initiative to tighten security, restrict access to sensitive exhibits, and enhance surveillance to prevent future thefts.

According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, this audit is part of the agency’s internal cleansing process, aimed at restoring accountability and transparency.

“The chairman is determined to root out misconduct and uphold the integrity of the agency,” Oyewale remarked.

“The EFCC is committed to ensuring that such breaches of trust do not occur again.”

However, the EFCC’s leadership has dismissed claims that poor welfare conditions within the agency were a contributing factor to the thefts.

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“There is no justification for fraudulent practices,” Oyewale asserted.

“When you fight corruption, it fights back.”

This statement highlights the challenges the EFCC faces in dealing with both external corruption and internal misconduct.

The agency’s resolve to root out corruption within its own ranks appears unwavering, despite opposition from some dismissed staff members and other detractors who continue to challenge the agency’s reforms.

Despite the scandal, the EFCC has vowed to continue its efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria.

The agency’s internal reforms, which are designed to increase transparency and accountability, have faced considerable resistance, but EFCC officials insist that they are necessary to ensure the agency’s long-term success.

“This is corruption fighting back,” Oyewale concluded, “but we remain resolute in our mission to deliver an anti-graft agency the nation can trust.”

In conclusion, the recent internal scandals at the EFCC have raised serious questions about the agency’s effectiveness and integrity.

The thefts by EFCC personnel of recovered assets have tarnished the agency’s reputation, undermining its role in the fight against corruption.

As the EFCC works to rebuild trust and strengthen its internal safeguards, it must address the root causes of these issues—both in terms of the agency’s oversight mechanisms and the welfare of its personnel.

Only through meaningful reform can the EFCC hope to regain the public’s confidence and restore its image as a credible institution in the fight against financial crimes.


For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook

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