The Economic and Finance Crime Commission (EFCC) is under fire following reports of theft and corruption among its operatives.
Exhibits have gone missing including cash and gold bars and several officers have been dismissed and investigations ongoing.
In 2024 alone 27, EFCC operatives were dismissed for misconduct and fraudulent activities.
On January 6, 2025 EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed an investigation into a $400,000 claim against a sectional head in the agency.
Few days later 10 officers from the Lagos Zonal Command were arrested over missing operational items including gold bars worth over ₦1 billion and cash $350,000-$400,000.
Same issue was found in Kaduna Zonal Office where an officer was accused of stealing over $30,000 and other exhibits.
A source close to the situation said it’s a combination of poverty, high cost of living and lack of security around valuable items. Unchecked access to sensitive materials like cash and gold bars created opportunity for theft. Experts have faulted the lack of protocols like secure storage or system that requires multiple authorized personnel to access sensitive areas.
EFCC has launched an internal audit of all recovered assets in all zonal offices. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyode has directed strict surveillance and limited access to exhibit rooms to prevent future lapses.
Oyewale said the audit is part of the ongoing effort to restore integrity and accountability in the agency, dismissing claims that poor staff welfare was responsible for the theft.
Instead he said the agency is committed to identifying and removing the corrupt elements.
The implication goes beyond internal investigation. Public trust in EFCC has been broken and critics are warning of the consequences if the stolen exhibits belong to suspects that later win their cases. That will be a big scandal and dent the image of the agency.
Besides theft, the EFCC has been under fire over its operational methods, especially night raids.
One such operation in Awka, Anambra State, led to the death of an EFCC operative, Aminu Salisu, during a midnight raid.
The operation was done in spite of a directive from the EFCC chairman banning night operations.
Public outcry over these methods has grown with individuals and groups condemning the agency for being too rough and not following due process.
Nigerians, including lawyers and security experts, are calling for a total overhaul of the EFCC.
Suggestions are to have stricter internal controls, thorough background checks on personnel and more ethical training programs. Critics also want stronger oversight to eliminate political interference and address the systemic issues that allow corruption to thrive.
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has asked the EFCC to do more internal cleaning to regain public trust. Security experts have also suggested measures like using bank vaults for high value items, increasing staff salaries and being transparent in asset recovery and disposal.
Despite these challenges, EFCC officials say the agency is still committed to its anti-corruption fight. They argue that the recent revelations show they are willing to confront internal issues and rebuild credibility. But to regain public trust, they must take decisive action, transparent reforms and consistent enforcement of ethical standards across the commission.