EFCC Investigating 18 Serving Governors, Says Chairman Olukoyede

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the commission is currently probing 18 sitting governors across Nigeria. Olukoyede made this known on Friday during a sensitisation programme held in Lagos, aimed at raising awareness among stakeholders — including movie producers and bureau de change operators — about the dangers of naira mutilation and abuse.

Responding to questions from participants at the event, Olukoyede emphasized that the EFCC does not necessarily wait until public officials leave office before initiating investigations. He said while some governors are under active investigation, further action will be taken once their tenures end.

Sharing an anecdote from the commission’s past cases, Olukoyede narrated the story of a former governor who fled to the United Kingdom a day after handing over power in an attempt to evade EFCC arrest. According to the EFCC chairman, the ex-governor organized a birthday party in his London hotel shortly after arriving, where he began spraying £50 and £10 notes during the celebration.

The unusual behavior caught the attention of the hotel staff, leading the manager — who was reportedly alarmed — to contact emergency services. Mistaking the former governor’s conduct for a mental health crisis, the manager requested that the Metropolitan Police intervene. Officers arrived and attempted to place the ex-governor in an ambulance, believing he might be mentally unwell.

Olukoyede added that it took the intervention of the ex-governor’s associates, including two sitting governors who had travelled to London for the party, to clarify the situation and prevent further action by the authorities.