Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has rejected claims of persecution made by the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), describing such assertions as unfounded.
Olukoyede said it was regrettable that some Nigerians were accepting the narrative, stressing that investigations into Malami began before his appointment as EFCC chairman.
Malami is currently facing trial alongside some members of his family on 16 counts of alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
Speaking during a national television programme yesterday, the EFCC chairman dismissed suggestions of vendetta against the former attorney-general, insisting that the commission remains consistent in probing and prosecuting individuals suspected of corrupt practices.
“There’s nothing like that.
The particular case predated my appointment. And, I didn’t give a nod to initiate proceedings until I found that we have a water-tight investigation,” he said.
Olukoyede also denied claims that he was indicted by a panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami.
“I challenge those making such claims of indictment against me by Justice Ayo Salami Panel to publish the report,” he said.
He added: “Let me tell Nigerians that the commission’s investigation panel cleared me of any wrongdoing. The presidency at the time also cleared me. Also, the law enforcement agencies handed me a clean bill.
“I can say clearly that there’s no report anywhere that I’ve been involved in any fraudulent dealings, whether as the commission’s chief of staff, secretary, and now, the chairman of the commission.”
Highlighting the commission’s performance under his leadership, Olukoyede said the EFCC recorded significant milestones in the past year.
“Our big win in 2025 was our ability to review and revive old cases that Nigerians thought were dead,” he said.
He noted that some of the revived cases involved former governors and ministers, many of which are currently before the courts.
“We were able to recover assets. Nigerians are aware of the Lokogoma assets. One major recovery was a university,” he added.
The EFCC recently recovered Nok University in Kachia, Kaduna State, following a court order for its final forfeiture after it was found to have been built with misappropriated public funds by a former civil servant.
The institution has since been converted to the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, thereby transforming the recovered asset into a public institution.
