Monday, January 12, 2026 - The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has challenged Nigerians to publicly come forward with evidence if he has ever been involved in fraudulent activities, insisting that he has never benefited from corruption throughout his years in public service.
Olukoyede made the declaration during an interview with
Channels Television aired on Sunday, where he dismissed claims linking him to
fraud or illicit enrichment.
“I’d like to tell Nigerians here, with every sense of
responsibility, all through my service in the public sector, as Chief of Staff,
in the EFCC, as Secretary in the EFCC, and I make bold to say that I’ve never
been involved in any fraudulent activity,” he said.
The EFCC chairman further stated, “I’ve never been involved
in any fraudulent activities. I serve as Chief of Staff, no Nigerian, and I
challenge anybody to say, ‘Oh, this man has ever collected one bottle of coke
or one naira to influence my sense of judgement in carrying out my
responsibility.’”
Addressing concerns about asset management during his time
as EFCC Secretary, Olukoyede said he handled seized assets without personal
gain.
“As Secretary, I’ve got to manage assets here and to dispose
assets. I never—you can’t trace any asset to me, nor any member of my family,
as a matter of principle. And no Nigerian can say I collected one dime because
of carrying out my activities,” he said.
He questioned the basis of the allegations against him,
adding, “So the issue of fraudulent attachment, I don’t know where that would
have come from. And I’ve told you now, I’ve never benefited from any of these
assets. Never.”
When asked about his wealth, Olukoyede said Nigerians were
free to verify his claims.
“I mean, Nigeria should go and investigate that. So I don’t
understand the concept of being a rich man,” he
said.
Responding to a question on asset declaration, the EFCC
chairman said he complied fully with the law at every stage of his career.
“Of course I did that. I mean, I said that to the public.
That was the first thing I did. I did it as Chief of Staff. I did it as
Secretary. I did it as Chairman,” he said.
He added, “I remember Nigerians also remember that I asked
all my staff to also declare their assets. So look, it’s something that anybody
can verify.”
Reiterating his challenge, Olukoyede said, “I’m telling you,
I’ve never been involved in any fraudulent activity. Whether as Chief of Staff
or as Secretary, and I’m telling Nigerians, if you have ever offered me a
bribe, and I collected, come out and say it.”
Asked if he considered himself upright, he replied, “To the
best of my knowledge. I do my work with every sense of diligence, and I do my
work with every sense of commitment and loyalty to the mandate.”
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