Despite the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, championing a zero-tolerance policy on internal corruption, a senior managerial officer in the rank of Assistant Commander (ACE) of the Commission has been accused of extensive corruption, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and unexplained wealth.

The allegations are contained in a six-page petition submitted to the EFCC Chairman on July 9, 2026, by the Network for Justice Association of Nigeria (NJAN), a copy of which PRNigeria obtained.

The petition comes amid heightened scrutiny of alleged misconduct within the anti-graft agency, including a separate investigation involving a sectional head over a reported $400,000 corruption allegation.

Olukoyede has repeatedly emphasised internal cleansing as essential to the credibility of the Commission’s anti-corruption campaign, with the EFCC sanctioning and dismissing personnel found culpable of fraud, misconduct and other breaches.

However, the latest petition raises serious allegations against a senior officer reportedly close to the Commission’s leadership and whose monthly remuneration is said to be between N800,000 and N900,000.

The petition, signed by NJAN President, Adedeji Sunday Ajala, was also copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

NJAN listed 21 allegations against the officer, ranging from abuse of office and extortion to interference with investigations, unauthorised access to financial intelligence and acquisition of assets allegedly inconsistent with his legitimate income.

PRNigeria has not independently established the allegations, and the petition did not provide evidence of any conviction or formal finding of wrongdoing against the officer.

According to the petition, individuals who supplied some of the information requested anonymity because of alleged fears of victimisation within the Commission. NJAN, however, maintained that the claims were based on what it described as “consistent accounts and observable patterns” capable of being independently verified.

One of the central allegations is that the officer presents himself as the “lifeline” of the EFCC Chairman and allegedly invokes his purported closeness to the leadership to wield influence within the Commission.

The petitioners alleged that the officer sometimes bypasses established operational procedures by obtaining approvals directly from the Chairman without routing matters through relevant supervisory channels, including the Head and Director of Operations.

They further claimed that the officer allegedly demands as much as 10 per cent of sums involved in some petitions before investigations commence and, in certain instances, secures approval for petitions without subjecting them to the Commission’s normal vetting process.

Another allegation concerns the purported acquisition of confidential banking information. NJAN alleged that the officer works with contacts in the financial sector to obtain information on individuals and companies, which is subsequently used for extortion rather than legitimate investigation and prosecution.

The group also accused the officer of holding undisclosed meetings with high-profile suspects inside and outside EFCC premises, where unofficial settlements and “soft landings” were allegedly negotiated.

The petition claimed that some of the alleged encounters were recorded and could be investigated. Among the most serious accusations are claims that the officer received substantial sums in local and foreign currencies through proxies in exchange for favourable treatment of suspects.

The petition also alleged that some individuals were falsely informed they had been placed on security watchlists to extract money from them. It further accused the officer of conspiring with politicians to use EFCC processes against political opponents, including alleged interference with administrative bail in return for financial inducements.

The petitioners also urged scrutiny of the officer’s assets, which they claim are far beyond his legitimate earnings. They cited luxury vehicles, duplexes allegedly acquired through a construction firm, and Dubai properties reportedly purchased through a real estate company.

NJAN alleged that over $1 million in cash was used for some of the overseas acquisitions, including a purported $300,000 transaction in June 2026 — claims PRNigeria has not independently verified.

The petition further questioned the officer’s frequent business-class trips to the United States and alleged ownership of property there, calling for checks on immigration and financial records. A poultry business linked to the officer was also flagged for investigation over suspicions that it may serve as a front for trade-based money laundering, though the petition cited no formal findings by any competent authority.

NJAN also alleged that the officer maintains relationships with influential political and business figures whose interests could intersect with his official duties. In one instance, the petition claimed that a prominent South-East businessman allegedly engaged the officer to influence a case before the Commission, including a reported visit to the businessman’s Abuja residence on June 1, 2026, where an undisclosed sum in USD was allegedly paid to suppress a matter.

The petition similarly alleged contacts with political figures in northern Nigeria, including individuals reportedly linked to cases under the officer’s purview. It warned that, if proven, such relationships could compromise the EFCC’s credibility, weaken public confidence in anti-corruption enforcement and demoralise officers who carry out their duties professionally.

They consequently called on Olukoyede to institute an independent and comprehensive investigation into the allegations, secure relevant documentary and electronic evidence, protect potential witnesses and take appropriate action where wrongdoing is established.

“A thorough investigation and decisive action will reinforce public confidence in the Commission’s commitment to accountability and send a clear message that no officer, regardless of rank or influence, is above the law,” the petition stated.

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale told PRNigeria that the Commission maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on internal corruption. He said over 40 staff members were recently dismissed following thorough, independent investigations.

Oyewale said internal disciplinary reviews are continuous but noted that he was not yet aware of the latest petition specifically targeting the officer. (PRNigeria)

…seeks an order of mandamus to compel release of original certificates

The credentials of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, appear to be under scrutiny, as three separate suits before the Federal High Court in Abuja seek to compel the release of his original certificates.

The legal actions are seeking orders of mandamus against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), compelling them to make available to an applicant copies of certificates issued to the NDC candidate.

The suits, filed by a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Abayomi Arabambi, were predicated on the alleged refusal of the affected federal institutions to release details of Mr. Obi’s academic record in their custody, in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.

While the suit against WAEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, and the one against NYSC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, were filed on September 1, the action against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9.

The plaintiff, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Anderson Asemota, said he is not asking the court to determine whether the certificates the NDC presidential flag-bearer attached to the Form EC 9 he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 presidential election were “genuine or forged,” but is only seeking disclosure of the respondents’ official records “from which the status and particulars of the certificates may be ascertained.”

Arabambi told the court that he had written separately to the institutions demanding information concerning the certificates he believed they had issued to Obi.

He said his requests were not attended to, nor was there any explanation from the respondents as to why the information he sought could not be released.

According to the plaintiff, the information he is seeking is in the public interest and serves “purposes of transparency and accountability concerning persons seeking public office.”

Specifically, he is praying the court to compel WAEC, through an order of mandamus, to release to him a Certified True Copy (CTC) of WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, issued to Obi Gregory Onwubuase in June 1978.
The plaintiff is also praying the court to compel UNN to release to him the university’s certificate register, academic records, graduation records, Senate/degree-award records, and other existing official records relevant to Certificate No. D000198, insofar as such records exist.

“The applicant is not asking this court, in this proceeding, to pronounce that Certificate No. D000198 is genuine or forged.

“Rather, to ascertain what the university’s own official records disclose concerning the certificate,” he added.

Likewise, he urged the court to order NYSC to grant him access to official records relating to “NYSC Certificate No. 203495, stated to have been issued to Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuase (Mr.), on May 1, 1986,”
as well as the release of “any official record, certificate, document, or other material upon which the said Certificate No. 203495 was predicated, based, or issued, insofar as the same is in the custody, possession, or control of the respondents.”

“The request further sought information concerning the manner in which the name ‘Peter-Onwubuase’ appears in the relevant NYSC records.”

Court processes revealed that while WAEC, on August 11, declined the plaintiff’s request, citing the provisions of Sections 14(1)(a) and 14(2)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, both UNN and NYSC neither granted the request nor gave any reason for refusing the application.

Consequently, the plaintiff is asking the court to declare that “the refusal of the respondents to furnish the applicant with the requested information, as communicated in its letter dated 11th August 2026, and in reliance on Section 14(1)(a) and Section 14(2)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, is erroneous.”

He wants the court to declare that the request he made pursuant to the provisions of the FOI Act, 2011, was valid and ought to have been granted by the affected institutions.

He applied for: “An order of mandamus compelling the respondents to communicate to the applicant the result of a verification of the particulars of Certificate No. D000198 from the university’s existing official records, including whether the said certificate and/or its particulars appear in those records.”

“An order of mandamus compelling the respondents to communicate to the applicant the result of their verification of Certificate No. 203495 as disclosed by their official records.”

“An order directing the respondents, if they contend that any part of the requested information is exempt from disclosure, to identify the particular information withheld and the precise statutory provision relied upon for the refusal, and to disclose all severable non-exempt portions.”

Also, “an order pursuant to Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act directing disclosure of the requested information where this Honourable Court finds that the respondents are not authorised to deny access, have no reasonable grounds for denying access, or that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest served by withholding it.”

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suits. (Vanguard)

…Developer’s representative in police custody

Rescue and emergency workers in Enugu, on Sunday, rescued four persons trapped in a partially collapsed uncompleted hotel construction site, while one person is feared dead.

The four-storey building situated at Independence Layout, Enugu, was said to have collapsed early on Sunday morning, a development residents, who rushed to the scene, said could have been worse but for the regulatory interventions of the state government in sealing the site.

Speaking to newsmen at the site, the Executive Chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA), Barr. Uche Anya, said it was a case of one of the recalcitrant developers who failed to comply with building codes.

Anya said ECTDA had taken regulatory action by sealing the site, which was approved in 2021.

“This property collapsed in the early hours of the morning. We arrived here around 6am. When we arrived, we met one of the securitymen, who said that six people slept in the uncompleted property, but one of them was not around when the incident occurred.

“So, the government emergency services arrived, and we started rescue operations. Four people, right now, are in the hospital receiving treatment as we speak. I believe there could be one more person in there, and that is why you see all this rescue effort ongoing.

“Meanwhile, this property was approved in 2021 before the advent of this administration. But usually, we have a habit of stocktaking, checking on every construction at every stage. When I personally led the team that inspected here, we found out that there were serious integrity issues and non-compliance with their 2021 approval.

“I personally issued the first ‘stop work order,’ which, due to the violation, resulted in our sealing the place over the last six months.

“So, I think within the last 30, 40 days, the representative of the owner, whom they say lives abroad, has been interfacing with us to remedy the situation. This is the process that we are still trying to interface on, and it came down.

“By the way, I have handed the representative to the police, not necessarily for detention, but to help with the investigation. But this is really a very unfortunate situation,” he explained.

Also speaking to reporters, the Director, Enugu State Fire Service, Engr. Okwudiri Oha, commended the swift response by the Red Cross, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), ECTDA, the Enugu State Ambulance Services, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the mobilisation of adequate rescue equipment such as bulldozers and excavators, which ensured the rescue of four persons.

“As a rescue officer, what we did was to ask the security man how many people are here. He said that there were supposed to be six. One person had left before it happened.

“So, we were able at that initial time to rescue four persons. Out of the four, two sustained minor injuries and they were all rushed to a health facility for proper checks.

“Then, as you have seen, we have been working. The last person we just recovered was the fifth person. It is when you get to a health facility that you know whether he is still alive,” he stated.

NEMA Information Officer in Enugu, Mr. Ezeani Nnanyelugo, who confirmed the numbers, noted that the situation could have been worse but for the earlier sealing of the site by the state government.

“When we came to the scene of the incident, we found out that there were a total of six persons that were supposed to be on the site. One person was not on the site as at the time of the incident, while the four others were rescued and taken to the hospital and have been stabilised.

“Just not quite long ago, one body was recovered and it was taken to the hospital to confirm whether he was dead or alive,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, SEMA, Chinasa Mbah, said whereas only five persons were said to be present at the time of the incident, the entire wreckage would be cut through and excavated to ensure that no one was left behind.

“We are going to excavate everything because you can see the machines that government brought. We will excavate everything to ensure no survivor or body is left,” she said.