EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the commission’s performance under his leadership.
Olukoyede said the affected officers were removed from service after being found involved in corrupt practices, adding that the EFCC had gone beyond dismissal by initiating criminal proceedings against some of them.
According to him, more than five former staff members are currently facing prosecution, while preparations are ongoing to take other cases to court.
He explained that disciplinary measures within the anti-graft agency must be consistent with the standards it expects from members of the public investigated for corruption.
“If that is what people do in other agencies and I arrest them, investigate them and prosecute them, why must I just dismiss you if you do it within our own system and I’m not prosecuting you?” Olukoyede said.
The EFCC chairman said proceedings involving some of the affected personnel could be followed in court, noting that the cases were matters of public record.
As part of efforts to strengthen integrity within the agency, Olukoyede also announced the renaming of the former Department of Internal Affairs to the Department of Ethics and Integrity.
He said the restructuring was aimed at reinforcing the commission’s internal cleansing programme and promoting higher ethical standards among its personnel.
Olukoyede further revealed that the EFCC was developing a gift policy to regulate what its officers could receive and ensure greater transparency.
Under the proposed policy, personnel would be expected to declare gifts above a specified value, including presents received from relatives based outside Nigeria.
He said the commission would clearly define acceptable gifts and establish mechanisms to ensure officers could explain their sources of income, assets and standard of living.
“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” Olukoyede said.
