EFCC: 18 sitting governors under investigation for corruption

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has revealed that the commission is currently investigating 18 sitting governors across the country.

Speaking on Friday during a sensitisation event in Lagos, Olukoyede explained that while the governors are under investigation, action will be taken once their terms in office come to an end.

“The programme was organised to sensitise stakeholders, including movie producers and bureau de change operators, on the ills of naira mutilation and abuse.”

During the question-and-answer segment of the event, the EFCC boss recounted a dramatic incident involving a former governor who fled the country immediately after leaving office.

“I will give you an experience we had in EFCC. There was a time in this country when we were investigating a governor. We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate,” he said.

“As I’m talking to you, I’m investigating about 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave (office), we will go to the next level.”

“This governor was investigated while he was in office. Immediately, he finished his tenure, the following day, he took off to England to avoid the arrest of EFCC.”

Olukoyede continued with an account of the bizarre turn of events that followed the former governor’s arrival in the UK.

“Coincidentally, that week happens to be his birthday. He organised a birthday party in the hotel where he was staying.

“While the party was going on, he started spraying pounds — 50 bills and 10 bills. So the manager of the hotel was called. He came down and saw the former governor spraying pounds. He had never seen such a thing in his life so he had to call 911.”

“When the Metropolitan Police came, he asked that they should help arrest the former governor. The ex-governor was arrested and they wanted to put him in an ambulance.”

“The people — his friends, colleagues, and two governors — who went to London to celebrate with him had to intervene. They said the ex-governor was not a mad man because the hotel manager thought he was mad.”