EFCC Chairman Discloses Rejection of N500 Million in Gifts During Mother’s Funeral
In a recent address at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room held in Abuja, Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealed that he turned down offers totaling nearly N500 million during his mother’s funeral in 2019. The event, which focused on the themes of ethics, integrity, corruption risk assessments, and anti-corruption efforts at various governance levels in Nigeria, was organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre, in collaboration with the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the EFCC, with backing from the MacArthur Foundation.
Olukoyede was serving as the EFCC Secretary when he faced this significant ethical dilemma. He recounted that after returning to his family’s home in Ekiti State for the funeral, he discovered numerous cheques and drafts left for him by high-ranking officials, including ministers and directors. Upon examining the contents of a carton presented to him, he found the cheques collectively worth about N500 million.
Reflecting on the situation, Olukoyede expressed genuine concern over the implications had he chosen to deposit the cheques into his bank account. Considering his role in investigating some of the individuals who sent the gifts, he recognized how the presence of such funds could have been used against him in future inquiries, undermining his integrity.
He stated, “I had buried my mother in September 2019. By July 2020, I found myself under investigation. If I had deposited those cheques into my account, how could I have defended myself when those individuals were under scrutiny?”
Highlighting the significance of ethical conduct, he further recalled instances where he rejected potential conflicts of interest. Olukoyede explained how both his elder brother and his brother-in-law expressed interest in participating in a government auction for forfeited assets during his tenure as secretary. Upholding transparency and ethical guidelines, he rejected their applications despite familial connections choosing instead to maintain his integrity.
He shared, “We formed a committee to oversee the auction process. Various auctioneers applied, including my brother-in-law, a recognized international auctioneer. When I came across his application, I destroyed it immediately. Even after a call from him, telling him what I did, I stood firm on our conflict-of-interest policy. Moreover, when my elder brother approached me for a truck under a different name, I reiterated our guidelines. A short while later, both my chairman and I were placed under investigation, and had my brother-in-law’s name appeared on the list of auctioneers, the consequences could have been devastating for me.”
Olukoyede’s experiences underscore the vital importance of maintaining ethical standards in positions of public trust, especially in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
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