Senior EFCC Officer Faces Probe Over Abuse Of Office, Unexplained Wealth

A senior officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the rank of Assistant Commander, is facing serious allegations of abuse of office, extortion, interference with investigations and unexplained wealth following a petition submitted to the commission.

The six-page petition was submitted to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede on July 9, 2026, by the Network for Justice Association of Nigeria, NJAN. Copies were also sent to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Department of State Services, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The petition listed 21 allegations against the officer, whose monthly salary was put at between N800,000 and N900,000. The allegations include claims that he used his reported closeness to the EFCC leadership to exercise influence within the commission and bypass normal operational procedures.

Among the claims is that the officer allegedly demanded as much as 10 per cent of sums involved in some petitions before investigations could begin. The petition also alleged that he obtained approval for some complaints without following the commission’s normal vetting procedures.

The petition further accused him of allegedly gaining access to confidential banking information through contacts in the financial sector. NJAN claimed that such information was subsequently used for purposes unrelated to legitimate investigation, including alleged attempts to extort individuals and companies.

Another allegation concerns meetings the officer allegedly held with suspects and other influential individuals inside and outside EFCC premises. The petition claimed that some of these meetings involved discussions about unofficial settlements and favourable treatment.

NJAN also alleged that the officer received money in local and foreign currencies through proxies in exchange for helping suspects obtain favourable outcomes. It further claimed that some people were allegedly threatened with claims that they had been placed on security watchlists as a means of extracting money from them.

The petition raised questions over the officer’s reported assets and lifestyle, including luxury vehicles, properties, alleged Dubai investments and property interests in the United States. NJAN called for financial and documentary checks to determine whether the assets could be explained by the officer’s legitimate income.

The allegations also extended to a poultry business allegedly linked to the officer, with the petition asking investigators to examine whether the business could have been used to conceal illicit financial transactions. PRNigeria, however, stated that it had not independently verified the allegations and that there had been no conviction or formal finding of wrongdoing against the officer.

The petitioners have called for an independent investigation, preservation of electronic and documentary evidence and protection for potential witnesses. They argued that establishing the truth would help protect the credibility of the EFCC and demonstrate that no officer is above the law.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the commission maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards internal corruption. He disclosed that more than 40 staff members had recently been dismissed following thorough and independent investigations, although he said he was not aware of the specific petition against the senior officer at the time he was contacted.

The allegations therefore remain allegations pending investigation and any formal findings by the relevant authorities. The case nevertheless places renewed attention on the EFCC’s internal disciplinary system and its ability to investigate its own officers with the same standard of accountability it demands from members of the public.

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