EFCC Detains 10 Officers Over Alleged Theft of Operational Items
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 10 of its officers from the Lagos Zonal Command over their failure to account for missing operational items. The arrests followed an internal investigation prompted by the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the EFCC confirmed that the officers were detained last week under Olukoyede’s direct orders. They are being questioned in connection with the theft of operational items that could not be accounted for.
This action is part of the EFCC’s broader efforts to cleanse itself of corruption. The latest arrests come on the heels of the commission’s dismissal of 27 officers on January 6, 2025, and a previous dismissal of two officers for corrupt practices in November 2024.
Despite these efforts, the EFCC’s approach to transparency has been met with criticism. Concerns have been raised over the agency’s lack of openness regarding the identities of officers dismissed for fraud and misconduct. Unlike the National Judicial Council (NJC), which discloses disciplinary decisions and details of any judge found guilty of misconduct, the EFCC has kept such details confidential.
The agency’s reluctance to reveal important information extends beyond internal matters. Last year, the EFCC faced public backlash for concealing the identity of the owner of a large estate in Abuja that was forfeited to the government. The EFCC, however, defends its position and maintains that it is making progress in the current investigation. It assured that any officers found guilty of theft would face disciplinary action.
