The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has announced a massive crackdown campaign which has seen 18 governors under probe for alleged corruption in Nigeria.
Olukoyede who made this revelation during a sensitization program in Lagos on Friday, July 18, 2025, said the campaign is part of the agency’s relentless pursuit of accountability, despite legal hurdles shielding governors in office.
Olukoyede disclosed that the 18 governors under probe are being closely monitored by EFCC officers and will be immediately brought to book after the expiration of their tenures.
He emphasized that although the EFCC does not need to wait until their tenures end to initiate investigations, the agency has to wait to begin any prosecution.
He attributed this to legal bottlenecks due to constitutional immunity. Section 308 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution grants immunity to serving governors, preventing their arrest or prosecution for any offense during their tenure.
He said: “I will give you an experience we had in EFCC. There was a time in this country when we were investigating a governor. We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate.
“As I’m talking to you, I’m investigating 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave the office, we will go to the next level.
“This governor was investigated while he was in office. Immediately, he finished his tenure, the following day, he took off to England to avoid the arrest of the EFCC.
“Coincidentally, that week happens to be his birthday. He organised a birthday party in the hotel where he was staying.
“While the party was going on, he started spraying pounds — 50 bills and 10 bills. So the manager of the hotel was called. He came down and saw the former governor spraying pounds. He had never seen such a thing in his life so he had to call 911.
“When the Metropolitan Police came, he asked that they should help arrest the former governor. The ex-governor was arrested and they wanted to put him in an ambulance.
“The people — his friends, colleagues, and two governors — who went to London to celebrate with him had to intervene. They said the ex-governor was not a madman because the hotel manager thought he was mad.”
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that since assuming office, Olukoyede has overseen high-profile cases, including the prosecution of four former governors—Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra), and Darius Ishaku (Taraba)—on charges ranging from money laundering to fraud totaling over N194 billion.
Additionally, three former ministers, including Saleh Mamman and Hadi Sirika, are facing trials for alleged financial crimes.
