The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dismissed more than 40 of its staff in the last three years for corruption and financial malpractice.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a press briefing to mark three years of his leadership at the commission’s headquarters.
He said about five other staff members are currently facing prosecution in court over corrupt practices.
“In the past two and a half to three years, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice. More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment,” Olukoyede said.
He explained that some of the dismissed staff are already in court, while the commission is preparing case files for others.
“If I arrest and prosecute people outside, why should I just dismiss our own staff if they do the same thing and not prosecute them?” he asked.
The chairman said the action was part of efforts to make EFCC staff accountable to the same standards the agency expects from Nigerians.
“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he said.
Olukoyede also announced that the commission’s former Internal Affairs Department has been renamed the Department of Ethics and Integrity. This, he said, is part of efforts to clean the system from within.
He added that the EFCC has introduced a new gift policy. Under the policy, staff must declare gifts above a certain value, including those from friends and relatives. The commission will also monitor the sources of income and lifestyle of its officers.
The EFCC boss said fighting corruption requires more than arrests. He called for stronger policies and institutional reforms to block loopholes.
He urged the media and civil society groups to play their role as watchdogs in the fight against corruption.
(NAN)