The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, revealed that the agency is currently investigating 18 sitting governors.
Olukoyede made this disclosure during a sensitisation programme held in Lagos on Friday, July 18.
He explained that while investigations are ongoing, the EFCC will take further action once the governors’ terms have ended.
During a question-and-answer session, Olukoyede shared an incident involving a former governor who was arrested in the United Kingdom after a hotel manager, witnessing the governor spraying pounds at a birthday party, mistakenly thought he was mentally unstable.
“I will share an experience from the EFCC. There was a time when we were investigating a governor while he was still in office. We don’t wait until their tenure ends before starting investigations.
As of now, I am investigating about 18 sitting governors. When they leave office, we will escalate the matter.
This particular governor was under investigation while in office. The day after his tenure ended, he flew to England to avoid EFCC arrest.
Coincidentally, that week was his birthday. He held a party at the hotel where he was staying. During the celebration, he began spraying 50- and 10-pound notes.
The hotel manager, having never seen such behavior, called 911.
When the Metropolitan Police arrived, they attempted to arrest the former governor and even considered putting him in an ambulance.
Fortunately, his friends, colleagues, and two governors who had traveled to London to celebrate intervened, explaining that he was not mentally ill, as the hotel manager had feared,” Olukoyede recounted.
