ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is facing renewed public attention following claims that more than 30 of its officers have been dismissed over allegations of bribery and blackmail.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, known as the EFCC, is a federal agency established to investigate and prosecute financial crimes such as fraud, money laundering, and corruption. It operates under the authority of the federal government of Nigeria and plays a key role in the country’s justice system.
According to a statement that has circulated publicly, the current chairman of the commission has adopted a strict position on internal misconduct. The statement said the chairman “does not want to hear anything about officers of the commission taking bribe or blackmailing people at all. Once he hears, you are gone.”
It further claimed that more than 30 officers have already lost their jobs. “Over 30 officers sacked already. And I hear more to go,” the statement said, suggesting that additional disciplinary actions may follow.
The message described how complaints are treated when brought directly to the chairman. “Once you report to him, he will tell you to play along and get evidence,” it said, indicating that those reporting misconduct may be asked to help gather proof before action is taken.
The statement also addressed criticism directed at the agency, saying, “So when I hear some people saying rubbish I just laugh. Don’t mistake the bad behavior of some bad eggs in EFCC with the current chairman.”
It ended with a call for evidence against any officer suspected of corruption. “If you have evidence of anyone in EFCC that is corrupt, gather it and bring it; once it is passed across to him, the person is gone.”
The development is significant because the EFCC is central to Nigeria’s efforts to combat corruption, an issue that has affected public finances, investor confidence, and governance for decades. Allegations of wrongdoing within the agency itself can undermine public trust in its investigations and prosecutions.
As public debate continues, attention will likely focus on whether the commission issues an official breakdown of the dismissals and what additional safeguards may be introduced to prevent future misconduct.