Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has called on the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukayode, to publish the names of the 27 dismissed for corruption recently.
Adeyanju also demanded that the officers be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other corrupt officers within the system.
The anti-graft agency sacked 27 officers from its workforce on January 6 following the recommendation of the staff disciplinary committee, which was rectified by the chairman, Mr. Olukayode.
According to the EFCC, the action was in line with “its quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements.”
Reacting to the development, Adeyanju commended the EFCC boss for taking the bold step to rid the commission of corrupt officials and urged him to follow it up by publishing the names of these officers and prosecuting them according to the law.
The statement read in parts, “For far too long, there have been allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and other unethical practices within the EFCC and its ranks, which should be absolutely unheard of for an agency entrusted with the vital responsibility of fighting economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.
“Only by reinforcing the core values of the commission can Nigeria truly rely on the EFCC as a credible force in the fight against corruption.
“This bold move by Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, the executive Chairman of the EFCC, is strongly encouraged, as it demonstrates a commitment to restoring the credibility of the EFCC.
“I commend the executive Chairman for his leadership and unwavering dedication to the mission of the EFCC, and I call on all Nigerians to support the EFCC and the fight against corruption.
“This is also calling on the chairman to disclose the officers who were dismissed and prosecute them so that it serves as a deterrence to others,” Adeyanju said.