EFCC begins probe of 18 govs, reveals ex-governor’s shocking arrest in UK hotel

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that 18 incumbent governors are currently under investigation by the commission.

Olukoyede made the revelation on Friday during a public awareness event in Lagos focused on discouraging the abuse and defacement of the naira.

He explained that although investigations are ongoing, further action will be taken once the governors leave office.

While addressing attendees, Olukoyede shared a startling account of how a former Nigerian governor was arrested in the United Kingdom shortly after leaving office.

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According to him, the ex-governor fled Nigeria a day after handing over power and ended up in a UK hotel where he threw a lavish birthday party.

Olukoyede said: “I will give you an experience we had in EFCC. There was a time in this country when we were investigating a governor. We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate.As I’m talking to you, I’m investigating about 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave office, we will go to the next level.

“This governor was investigated while he was in office. Immediately, he finished his tenure, the following day, he took off to England to avoid the arrest of EFCC.Coincidentally, that week happens to be his birthday.

“He organised a birthday party in the hotel where he was staying.While the party was going on, he started spraying pounds — 50 bills and 10 bills. So the manager of the hotel was called. He came down and saw the former governor spraying pounds.

“He had never seen such a thing in his life so he had to call 911.When the Metropolitan Police came, he asked that they should help arrest the former governor. The ex-governor was arrested and they wanted to put him in an ambulance.The people — his friends, colleagues, and two governors — who went to London to celebrate with him had to intervene. They said the ex-governor was not a mad man because the hotel manager thought he was mad.”

The EFCC chairman emphasized that the agency remains committed to tackling corruption, even when it involves high-ranking public officials.