EFCC Chairman Rejects N500m Bribe Offers During Personal Tragedy

In an inspiring display of integrity, Olanipekun Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), shared an eye-opening account of how he turned down offers worth a staggering N500 million from high-ranking government officials in 2019. The offers, which came in the form of cheques and drafts, were made during the funeral of his mother, a time when Olukoyede was serving as the Secretary of the EFCC.

During his address at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, Olukoyede revealed that the gifts were sent by ministers, directors, and officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The surprising part of his story was that he received these substantial offers while in the midst of his personal loss.

The EFCC chairman recounted his experience as he prepared to bury his mother in Ekiti State in September 2019. Upon returning to his family home the day before the funeral, Olukoyede was greeted by a box containing numerous cheques and drafts—gifts from government officials. According to him, there were over 17 cows, including pregnant ones, in his compound, which seemed like an elaborate gesture of condolence.

“My gate man handed me a box with several cheques inside. When I looked at them, I realized they amounted to nearly N500 million,” Olukoyede shared. Despite the staggering sum, he decided to reject the offers, a decision that showcased his unwavering commitment to his role at the EFCC and his personal values.

When he discussed the situation with his wife, she was initially overwhelmed with gratitude, but Olukoyede’s response was clear. “I had to return the cheques because accepting them could have undermined my integrity, especially given that I was handling investigations into several MDAs and their top officials,” he explained.

Reflecting on the situation, Olukoyede expressed how accepting such significant gifts would have raised serious questions about his objectivity, especially as he was leading investigations into some of the very agencies that sent the cheques. By July 2020, just a few months after his mother’s funeral, Olukoyede found himself under investigation, which made his decision to reject the gifts even more significant.

“This was a test of character,” Olukoyede said. “I knew I could not allow myself to be compromised, not even in a personal tragedy like this one. I would never be able to justify receiving those cheques, especially when some of the officials involved were being investigated by the EFCC.”

Olukoyede’s experience serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity, even when faced with overwhelming offers, and the significant role it plays in the fight against corruption.