Mr ola Olukoyede
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has revealed that he turned down financial gifts totaling N500 million from government officials during his mother’s burial in 2019.
Speaking at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, Olukoyede disclosed that the gifts, including cheques and bank drafts, were sent by ministers, directors, and heads of government agencies. At the time, he was serving as the Secretary of the EFCC.
Recalling the incident, Olukoyede said that upon arriving at his family home in Ekiti State before the burial, his gateman handed him a box containing the cheques. After reviewing them, he chose to return the money.
“I lost my mother in 2019, and when I went for the funeral, I saw about 17 cows in my compound, including pregnant ones. Then, my gateman presented me with a box filled with cheques and drafts from ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, and DGs,” he said.
He further explained that when he showed the cheques to his wife, she initially expressed gratitude, but he questioned the implications. Upon totaling the amounts, they found it added up to nearly N500 million.
Olukoyede emphasized that if he had accepted the money, it could have raised ethical concerns, especially since some of the officials offering the gifts were under EFCC investigation.
“Imagine if those cheques had been deposited into my account under the guise of traditional burial gifts. Even though such gifts wouldn’t have influenced my decisions, how would I have justified receiving money from individuals and agencies under investigation?” he stated.
