'I have fired 40 of my agents for being corrupt', says Nigeria's anti-corruption chief

ByChris Ewokor BBC Africa.

Key points

• Olukoyede, 56, remarked he had overseen a record-breaking time for the EFCC, recovering 1.23 trillion naira ($925m, £683m), with a conviction rate of more than 75%.
• In the first half of 2026 alone, it had recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings, the EFCC chairman continued.
• Nigeria's anti-corruption agency has dismissed more than 40 employees for alleged corruption and financial misconduct over the past three years.
• How a fake presidential council concluded up with a budget of almost $1m in Nigeria.
• While case files are being prepared against others, he remarked more than five of the dismissed office-holders were already facing prosecution.

Notably, the disclosure was created by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman Ola Olukoyede at an event assessing the agency's achievements since he took the helm in October 2023.

In practice, the EFCC investigates financial crimes, including fraud, funds laundering and corruption – regularly pursuing cases against politicians, public office-holders, business figures and others accused of misusing public funds.

"In the past two-and-a-half years or three years of my service, I've asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice, " Olukoyede informed journalists at the briefing in the capital, Abuja.

He went on to explain that as part of the reforms he had overseen at the agency, the EFCC's Department of Internal Affairs had been renamed "the Department of Ethics and Integrity".

To fight against conflicts of interest, a policy on gifts and hospitality had additionally been introduced.

It requires officers to declare gifts above a certain threshold – which he did not specify – including gifts received from relatives abroad.

"You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can't be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices, " Olukoyede remarked.

For context, the BBC asked the EFCC for more details regarding the alleged corruption involving its former staff members, but the agency stated this information was not available.

It was keen to point to its other achievements over the last three years – highlighted at Monday's briefing, external.

"The commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions between October 2023 and July 2026, " he remarked.

"These results reflect diligence, resilience and a prosecutorial approach anchored on evidence and courtroom outcomes."

Other figures disclosed at the event show that the EFCC's caseload is increasingly focused on cybercrime and fraud rather than just corruption cases against high-profile authorities. You may additionally be interested in.

How a fake presidential council concluded up with a budget of almost $1m in Nigeria. The military, a man named Administration and the stolen oil.

UK law enforcement destroyed my reputation and integrity, ex-Nigerian oil minister tells BBC.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around ' I have fired 40 of my agents for being corrupt' , says Nigeria' s point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.