Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency has dismissed more than 40 employees accused of corruption and financial misconduct during the past three years, its chairman has said.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chief Ola Olukoyede disclosed the dismissals during a briefing in the capital, Abuja, reviewing the agency’s performance since he took office in October 2023.
Olukoyede said more than five former officials were already being prosecuted, while cases were being prepared against several others.
“You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he told journalists.
The EFCC investigates fraud, money laundering, corruption and the alleged misuse of public funds. Its cases frequently involve politicians, government officials and prominent business figures.
Olukoyede said the agency had introduced internal reforms intended to strengthen accountability among its own personnel. Its Department of Internal Affairs has been renamed the Department of Ethics and Integrity, while new rules require officers to disclose gifts and hospitality above an unspecified value.
The EFCC did not provide details about the allegations against the dismissed employees.
Olukoyede also presented figures highlighting what he described as a record period for the commission. He said the agency recovered 1.23 trillion naira—about $925 million—and achieved a conviction rate exceeding 75% between October 2023 and July 2026.
During that period, the EFCC received 49,673 petitions, investigated 39,615 cases, filed 14,476 cases in court and secured 10,872 convictions, according to figures released by the chairman.
In the first six months of 2026 alone, it obtained 1,370 convictions from 1,889 cases filed in court.
Olukoyede said the results reflected an evidence-led approach to investigations and prosecutions. The agency’s figures also indicated that cybercrime and fraud now account for an increasing proportion of its caseload, alongside traditional corruption investigations involving senior public officials.