*Reveals how ex-Nigerian governor was arrested in UK for defacing currency
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Barr Ola Olukoyede, has revealed how a former Nigerian governor was arrested in the United Kingdom for spraying pound sterling notes.
He also revealed that the Commission was already compiling dossier in 18 serving state governors, putting facts on them together for possible prosecution after service.
But, he did not say how many former governors had been successfully prosecuted by the anti-graft commission of amount and property recovered from them after they left office.
Olukoyede made the revelations during a sensitisation event held in Lagos over the weekend, aimed at educating stakeholders, including movie producers and bureau de change operators, on the dangers and illegality of naira and other currencies mutilation and abuse.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session, the EFCC boss said the incident was part of a broader discussion on the agency’s on-going efforts to tackle corruption.
He emphasised that the EFCC is currently investigating 18 sitting governors across the country and will intensify action once their tenures come to an end.
“I will give you an experience we had in EFCC. There was a time in this country when we were investigating a governor. We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate.
“As I’m talking to you, I’m investigating about 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave (office), we will go to the next level,” he said.
He then recounted the case of a particular governor who, immediately after handing over power, fled Nigeria for the UK to evade arrest.
“Coincidentally, that week was his birthday. He organised a birthday party in the hotel where he was staying.
“While the party was going on, he started spraying pounds, 50 pound bills and 10 pounds bills. So the manager of the hotel was called. He came down and saw the former governor spraying pounds. He had never seen such a thing in his life so he had to call 911,” Olukoyede stated.
According to Olukoyede, when the UK’s Metropolitan Police arrived, the hotel manager insisted the former governor needed to be arrested, believing he was mentally unstable.
“The ex-governor was arrested and they wanted to put him in an ambulance,” he said.
It reportedly took the intervention of friends, associates, and two serving Nigerian governors who were at the party to convince the police that the former governor was not mentally ill but a wealthy politician from Nigeria.
Olukoyede used the incident to highlight how reckless financial behaviour by public officials not only undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s institutions but also draws international embarrassment.
