The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has disclosed that he rejected financial gifts totaling nearly N500 million from senior government officials during his mother’s burial in 2019.
Speaking at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, Olukoyede recounted how ministers, directors, and agency heads attempted to offer him cheques and drafts as condolence gifts.
However, he refused them, recognizing the ethical implications.
“When I got home, my gatekeeper handed me a box, and inside, I found numerous cheques and drafts from ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, and heads of agencies,” he said. “When we calculated everything, the total was close to N500 million.”
He stressed that accepting such funds could have led to corruption allegations, especially since some contributors were under EFCC investigation.
“If all those cheques had been deposited into my account, how would I have defended myself if an investigation was launched? Integrity means making the right choice, even when no one is watching.”
Olukoyede also highlighted other instances where he upheld ethical standards.
He disqualified his brother-in-law from participating in an EFCC asset auction and denied his elder brother’s request to acquire a truck through indirect means.
“My personal assistant, who knew my brother-in-law, informed him of my decision. He was upset and refused to speak to me for six months,” he revealed.
Regarding his brother’s request, he added, “I told him, ‘Sir, read the guidelines we published. Conflict of interest rules clearly state that no EFCC staff or their immediate family members can participate.’”
Reflecting on these decisions, Olukoyede noted that his commitment to integrity protected him when an investigation was later conducted into EFCC activities.
“Eight months later, a panel was set up to probe EFCC operations. If my brother-in-law had been among the auctioneers, what would have been the outcome? I could have ended up in prison.”