The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is facing yet another internal crisis as an officer from its Kaduna Zonal Office allegedly absconded with over $30,000 and other valuable exhibits.
The scandal comes on the heels of a January revelation in which the anti-corruption agency detained 10 officers in Lagos over the theft of operational items, including gold bars valued at over N1 billion, $180,000, and £140,000.
In the latest incident, an EFCC staff member identified as Polycarp reportedly fled after being notified of an impending audit of the exhibit room.
Insiders disclosed that the zonal director, Benedict Ubi, initiated the audit following the Lagos theft, only for Polycarp to excuse himself during the process and disappear, with all attempts to reach him proving futile.
“This is just what the preliminary audit has uncovered in foreign currency. A deeper investigation could reveal even more missing items,” said a source familiar with the development.
The EFCC has since launched a manhunt for the fleeing officer, though this scandal raises serious concerns about internal accountability within the agency.
This is not the first time the EFCC has faced allegations of internal corruption. In 2019, an officer was caught accepting a $20,000 bribe at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Despite confessing to the crime, he was reinstated by then-acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, with the matter swept under the rug.
These recurring incidents highlight glaring weaknesses in the EFCC’s internal controls, undermining its credibility as Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency.
Credit: Amiloaded News except headline
