In a stunning revelation, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, disclosed on Thursday how he turned down financial gifts amounting to N500 million from high-ranking government officials during his mother’s funeral in 2019.
.jpeg)
Speaking at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, Olukoyede narrated how ministers, directors, and heads of government agencies sent cheques and drafts to him while he was serving as the Secretary of the EFCC.
The financial gifts, which were presented as traditional funeral offerings, were accompanied by 17 cows some of them pregnant delivered to his home in Ekiti State.
Upon receiving the substantial amount, Olukoyede recounted how he showed the cheques to his wife, who initially reacted with gratitude. However, he quickly questioned the implications of accepting such money from individuals and agencies under the EFCC’s watch.
“By the time we put all the cheques together, it counted close to N500 million,” he stated. "I did the burial in September 2019. By July 2020, I was under investigation.
Now, assuming all those cheques were paid into my account as traditional gifts from some of the MDAs and top officials under EFCC investigation, how would I have explained it before a panel?"
Olukoyede emphasized that, despite the temptation, he chose to return the money, knowing it could compromise his integrity.
His revelation has reignited discussions on the culture of financial ‘gifts’ in Nigeria’s public service and the ethical dilemmas officials face in the fight against corruption.