Fight against corruption in Nigeria: 40 agents of the anti-corruption agency dismissed

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency is cleaning house. More than 40 employees of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been dismissed in the last three years for alleged corruption and financial misconduct.

The information was revealed by the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at an event dedicated to the agency's performance since he took office in October 2023.

According to him, several former dismissed agents are already facing legal proceedings, while other cases are being prepared.

"During the last two or three years of my service, I have requested the dismissal of more than 40 employees for corruption and financial misconduct," Ola Olukoyede told reporters in Abuja.

For the head of the agency, the fight against corruption must first and foremost apply to those in charge of it. "You can't fight corruption when your hands are stained by corrupt practices," he insisted.

As part of the reforms undertaken within the EFCC, the Department of Internal Affairs has been renamed the Department of Ethics and Integrity. A new policy on gifts and invitations has also been implemented to prevent conflicts of interest. Officials are required to declare gifts exceeding a certain threshold, including those received from relatives living abroad.

Beyond internal reforms, Ola Olukoyede presented a report he described as record-breaking. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the EFCC claims to have received 49,673 petitions, investigated 39,615 cases, and brought 14,476 cases before the courts. The commission secured 10,872 convictions during this period, a rate exceeding 75%, according to its chairman.

The agency also stated that it had recovered 1.23 trillion naira, or about $925 million.

In the first half of 2026 alone, the EFCC recorded 1,370 convictions, after receiving 1,889 complaints, according to figures released by its chairman.

However, the data released by the agency shows an evolution in its activities. A growing proportion of the cases handled now concern cybercrime and fraud, while the fight against corruption involving high-ranking public figures remains one of its main missions.