News
EFCC dismisses 2 staff over alleged corruption
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, on Monday, said two of the agency’s staff members were, recently, dismissed over allegation of corruption.
Olukoyede disclosed this during the opening of the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 5-day event is titled: “Optimising the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: How to Navigate Emerging and Systemic Challenges of Insecurity and Economic Hardship.”
The EFCC chairman, who said the two officials were dismissed two week ago, said besides dismissal, erring workers would also be prosecuted henceforth.
“So many other reforms are going on; the issue of our staff and all of that.
“Just two weeks ago, I have cause to dismiss two staff. You can’t be fighting corruption and your hands are dirty.
“He who comes to equity, your hands must also be cleaned. .
“And I say I will not only be dismissing them, I will also be prosecuting them because that is what we prosecute others for.
“So you will see that; we are preparing the case files of some of the people we have dismissed.
“If an EFCC staff will not be able to stand publicly with his two hands up and challenge the entire public; whose goat have I collected? Whose bottle of water have I taken illegitimately?
“And I have said this to Nigerians; who has ever given me one kobo in the course of my work, come out and say it. I stand to be challenged.
“I can’t be easily influenced by things like that. That’s why we must make up our minds to work together to do the right thing.
“Any staff that is corrupt, I will show you the way out.
“Again, there are some people who may want to be overzealous. Out of 12, you must have Judas.
“I can’t stand here and say all is perfect. As many as you see, report them to us and we will do justice,” he said.
Olukoyede said even he was once subjected to investigation for two years as EFCC secretary.
“I am not just sitting there as chairman of EFCC. I have been on the other side.
“I have been subjected to investigation myself for two years. So I know what it means to subject people to investigations.
“My major objective is to use the instrumentality of this mandate to stimulate the economy and to also follow the rule of law,” he said.
He said integrity is needed to survive, even as legal practitioners.
“Integrity is not about law, it is not about your advocacy ability to write beautiful briefs. No.
“It is about law and morality. Your conscience must tell you to do the right thing. That is what integrity is all about.
“Finally, ethics, value and standard of legal practice must also be reviewed.
“These are essential to me because the job of EFCC is to ensure that corruption does not find space in our national life,” he said.
Olukoyede said he welcomed constructive criticism of the agency.
“I have never been averse to that. But let us do it in a responsible way. What do we benefit from running down our institutions?” he asked.
According to him, if you notice EFCC is doing anything wrong, come to us.
“We will sit down and I will explain some reformed agenda we are carrying out.
“Upon my resumption of office, we have put some reformed agenda in place.
“We have reviewed our arrest and detention policy. I have had cause to investigate a whole ministry; minister, directors and all of that without detaining anybody over night.
“And I got all the information I needed and the matter is going on fine without detaining a single soul.
“But that does not preclude that if there is the need to detain, we do not detain.
“We have also had cause to equip all our interrogation rooms in compliance with judgment of court.
“Also, I need to let you know that the era of a 100-count charge, 150-count charge, 85-count charge is gone forever in EFCC,” he said.
Olukoyede said he had given a standing directive that no prosecution should be more than a 15-count charge.
“If your case is water tight…, that is why I will never rush to court until I am sure of my proof of evidence.
“I vet case files myself, particularly high-profile cases and the lawyer must give me a draft of the charge.
“We will look at it together, compared with my proof of evidence, sleep over it before I give my go-ahead.
“If we are losing a case, it shouldn’t be on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.
“If there are other technical issues, fine. But I will be sure that I have done my job and it’s done in such a way that I can defend long after I leave office,” he said.
The Coordinator of the Rule of Law Development Foundation, Mr Joseph Daudu, said the Criminal Law Review Conference commenced 6 years ago as one of the flagship events of the foundation.
He said it was essentially to provide an annual forum for the review of all developments, particularly novel developments in the field of crime apprehension, crime prosecution, crime adjudication and the important activities of the post adjudicatory processes and institutions of the criminal justice system.(NAN)
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Umbrella of the Southern Kaduna United Visionary Leaders have reiterated their unwavering commitment to the party, dismissing concerns over the growing presence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the region.
The leaders made the declaration at an APC stakeholders’ meeting held in Chori, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Addressing attendees, the host and Political Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for promoting inclusive governance. He assured that the group would continue to rally behind the administration to strengthen APC’s political foothold in Southern Kaduna.
“Our goal is to make the APC not just popular but deeply rooted in Southern Kaduna through increased membership, quality representation, and strategic political appointments,” Gaiya said. He also called for unity and peaceful coexistence, noting that development thrives only in a stable and united environment.
In his address, Mr. Ado Dogo Audu, Chairman of the group and Counsellor on Political Affairs to the Governor, played down the perceived threat posed by the SDP in Zone 3 of Kaduna State. He said recent defections to the APC are a testament to the party’s people-centric policies at both state and national levels.
“APC’s inclusive structure continues to draw support from across the region,” Audu stated.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Abdulmalik Durungwa emphasized the importance of deepening grassroots engagement, calling on members to make the party more visible and impactful at the community level.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Renewed Hope Consolidation Mandate, Professor Dogara Matoh, urged party members to remain united and avoid divisive politics rooted in religion, ethnicity, or regionalism, especially as the 2027 elections draw nearer.
Highlighting the role of grassroots politicians, Mr. Rijo Shekari described local appointees—councilors and local government chairmen—as critical links between government and the people.
He urged them to constantly engage their constituents on government policies and developmental initiatives.
Engineer Joseph Chiroma advised party faithful to stay aligned with the party’s internal structures to avert internal conflicts. He also commended Elder Anthony Hassan for laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, calling it a landmark achievement for the grassroots.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for unity and proactive political mobilization as the APC intensifies efforts to consolidate its presence across Southern Kaduna.
The story with the caption, 25 Persons Killed, Scores Injured As Armed Herdsmen Attack Enugu Village is not only built on devious masturbatory hallucination, but completely false.
Agreed that lately marauding herdsmen have been running amok across the Country, invading towns and villages, and leaving a trail of sorrow, tears and blood in their path. However, there was no such invaders attack on the agrarian communities of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area in Enugu State that left 25 persons dead.
This independent rebuttal of the falsehood targeted at diminishing the halcyon strides of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and the Enugu State Government in the area of Security is long overdue. We MUST not suffer ‘alarmists and fifth Columnists’ gladly. We have therefore chosen to debunk the devious falsehood of tale-mongers and bearers of false report and fake news.
Twice the false tale of marauding Herdsmen sacking communities in Enugu State have been bandied by those who are desperate to undermine the success of Enugu State in protecting lives and property. Not having any scores against the Enugu State Government in areas of Infrastructural Development, Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, and regarding facts about the profound strides of the Enugu State Government, naysayers have resorted to the Politricks Of Insecurity. They have chosen to hype isolated incidents and falsely alarm lovers of the State, Ndi’Enugu and Nigerians.
We, the Concerned Professionals For Good Governance (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group) upon seeing the news that has since gone viral regarding 25 Persons allegedly mowed down by Herdsmen in Enugu State proceeded to verify the news. We reached out to local Vigilantes, to Security Agencies as well as Agents of Government at the State and the Local Government level, sadly we found out that it was untrue. And we decided to query the possible reasons cum intention of the bearers of the false report and the fake news.
Enugu State has a premium time Digitalised Security Control Centre. Enugu State collaborates seamlessly with the Police, the Army and other Para-Military Agencies charged with the protection of lives and property. Enugu State is doing profoundly well in almost all the sectors of leadership, and Enugu State has become the go-to location for Corporate, Public Sector and Private Sector retreats and Conventions as well as Governmental events. It has become the shinning example in good governance. But Enugu State has also clearly become the envy of other States, such that Politicians seeking to diminish the laudable feats of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and His Team have resorted to the Politricks of fear-mongering and insecurity, but we shall not fold our hands and allow falsehood to stick.
Enugu State is arguably the safest State in the entire South, thanks to the commitment of the Enugu State to the protection of lives and property. This Truism have been attested to by Nigerians of different tendencies including friends and even members of Parties in the opposition in Enugu State. The commitment of the ebullient Governor of Enugu State to security is Olympic and indisputable, and not only is the State Government supportive of Security outfits with funding, the State has in place a Public and a Private Sector fueled fund to support Security Agencies in the furtherance of the Security of the State.
We can say without equivocation that Enugu State is safe and is deservedly emerging a preferred destination for investments, business, tourism, and living. It is proudly emerging a conferencing capital, ready and able to host tier one events such as the forthcoming NBA conference and Nigerian Guild of Editors Conference, among others. Ndi’Enugu are hospitable and willing to play host to legitimate institutions, as the State government in partnership with all available Security Agencies work seamlessly to guarantee peace and security in Enugu State.
We urge and encourage the media to always verify and validate information particularly issues bothering on Security before publication. That way, fake news on matters of Security will be shibboleth. And that way the Politricks Of Insecurity would cease to oil the frontiers of devious politics.
Enugu State is safe and will remain so, as the government is unalterably committed to the protection of lives and property.
Okechukwu Nwafor
Concerned Professionals For Good Governance. (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group).
The Rivers Judicial Service Commission (JSC) says the retirement of Chief Magistrate Ejike King George is not connected to the political crisis in the state.
George announced his retirement on Monday, citing the current political crisis in the state, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers House of Assembly.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours,” his letter announcing the resignation read.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the commission’s Acting Secretary Blessings Vic-Jumbo denied claims that George’s retirement was voluntary and politically motivated.
The JSC said George was compulsorily retired by the Commission through a letter dated 12th February 2025, following disciplinary actions tied to his prolonged unauthorized absence from duty. It detailed that the former chief magistrate had been absent without leave from August 25, 2023, to December 2024.
According to Vic-Jumbo, the disciplinary panel, which reviewed George’s conduct, found him wanting and recommended that he be offered the option to retire voluntarily within a set time frame.
Upon his failure to do so, the Commission proceeded with compulsory retirement effective February 10, 2025, the statement added.
This action, the statement emphasized, had no connection to the current political climate in Rivers State. The JSC took issue with recent comments by George, which allegedly suggested that his departure was triggered by the rise of a so-called “quasi-military administration” in the state.
The Commission firmly described George’s claims as “a contrived falsehood” and “a mischievous action calculated to deceive the public, attract undue sympathy, and undeserved patronage.”
“The general public should be properly guided,” the disclaimer added, distancing the judiciary from political narratives being woven around the former magistrate’s exit.
This development adds to the growing tension and sensitivity surrounding governance and judicial matters in Rivers State, particularly amidst recent political upheavals.