The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, disclosed that more than 40 of its personnel have been dismissed in the past two and a half years.

The commission revealed that they were sacked over their involvement in alleged corruption and financial malfeasance that could tarnish the image of the agency.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who disclosed this in Abuja when he met with media executives and other journalists in Abuja, said more than five of them are currently facing prosecution.

According to him, the case files of others involved that are yet to face the wrath of the law were being prepared for prosecution.

He stressed that these were part of the efforts to ensure that personnel of the anti-graft agency maintained the highest standards of integrity while investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.

“In the past two and a half years or three years of my service, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice.

“More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment. You can follow those cases in court; they are public knowledge,” the anti-graft agency boss told journalists.

The EFCC chairman said the commission had also introduced measures to strengthen accountability among its personnel, including a gift policy designed to regulate the acceptance and declaration of gifts by staff.

According to him, personnel would be required to declare assets valued above a specified threshold, including gifts received from relatives abroad.

He said the commission would determine the categories and value of gifts that its personnel could accept, stressing that the policy was aimed at ensuring that staff could account for their means of livelihood and standard of living.

Olukoyede warned that EFCC personnel could not effectively fight corruption while engaging in corrupt practices themselves.

He also disclosed that the commission had renamed its former Department of Internal Affairs as the Department of Ethics and Integrity, as part of efforts to strengthen internal accountability.

Olukoyede said the commission’s anti-corruption activities had also contributed significantly to revenue mobilisation, with federal and state tax recoveries amounting to approximately N288.1 billion during the period under review.

He said the figure comprised about N173.2 billion in federal tax recoveries and N114.9 billion attributed to state internal revenue services.

“This is fiscal value recovered through enforcement of existing obligations, not through the imposition of new taxes,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further disclosed that approximately N257.2 billion in naira recoveries were recorded for federal ministries, departments and agencies.

‘N1.23tn recovered in 3 years’

Olukoyede said the commission recovered N1.23tn, $684.48m, £373,905.78 and €9.34m between October 1, 2023, and June 30, 2026.

He explained that about N397.26 billion, representing 33 per cent of the naira recoveries, constituted direct recoveries for the Federal Government, while N836.34 billion, or 67 per cent, represented indirect recoveries made on behalf of ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies, individuals and foreign victims.

On the utilisation of recovered funds, Olukoyede said N661.32 billion and $492.37 million had been released to beneficiaries during the period.

He said the naira releases included about N325.35 billion paid directly to individuals and corporate bodies, while N335.97 billion was released to various MDAs, the Nigerian Revenue Service and state internal revenue services, among other beneficiaries.

Saudi Arabia has updated its tourist eVisa programme for 2026, limiting eligibility in Africa to only three countries as part of its list of 66 nations whose citizens can apply through the Kingdom’s online visa platform.

The move leaves most African countries, including Nigeria, outside the simplified entry scheme.

The electronic visa allows eligible travellers to visit Saudi Arabia for tourism, leisure activities, family visits and Umrah, excluding the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Applications are completed online, eliminating the need for embassy visits and lengthy visa processing.

Saudi authorities said the eVisa forms part of ongoing efforts to expand tourism, attract international visitors and simplify travel procedures through a fully digital application system. The visa is available only to citizens of approved countries and territories listed on the Kingdom’s official tourism portal.

Below is the list of African countries eligible for Saudi Arabia’s eVisa.

1. Mauritius

2. Seychelles

3. South Africa

The Yoruba Council Worldwide, Ìgbìmọ̀ Apapo Ọmọ Yorùbá Lágbàáyé, has announced the appointment of Mr. Gboyega Adeoye as its new Publicity Secretary and Spokesperson.  

The appointment was formally conveyed by the President of the Council, His Royal Majesty Sooko (Barr.) Oladotun Hassan, Esq., Sooko Agoriesin of Ile-Ife.

Ogbeni Adeoye, a versatile and veteran journalist with nearly three decades of experience in print, broadcast and digital media, brings to the Council a proven track record in public communications, media strategy, and development advocacy. He is also widely known as a frontline rights activist of no mean repute, with years of advocacy for justice, good governance, and the protection of indigenous rights.

In his new role, Ogbeni Adeoye is fully empowered to speak on behalf of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, issue official press statements, respond to media inquiries, and represent the Council’s position on critical national issues and matters affecting the Yoruba people at home and in the diaspora.

Announcing the appointment, HRM Sooko Oladotun Hassan said the selection of Ogbeni Adeoye was deliberate, based on his capacity, credibility and commitment to cultural advancement.

“Ogbeni Gboyega Adeoye has been carefully selected based on his proven capacity in public communications, development advocacy, and cultural strategy. He shall henceforth serve as the official voice and image of our Council on all matters relating to the media and public discourse,” the President stated.

The Yoruba Council Worldwide is a foremost global institution committed to the cultural, political and socio-economic advancement of the Yoruba people.

With this appointment, all media engagements, public clarifications, live appearances and official statements pertaining to the Yoruba Council Worldwide for and on behalf of the Yoruba indigenous people globally should be directed to the office of the Publicity Secretary.

Adeoye expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Council for the trust reposed in him, pledging to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, truth and cultural dignity in projecting the ideals of the Yoruba nation.

The Council solicits the cooperation of all media houses and editors nationwide as it continues to advance its shared ideals for national development, cultural renaissance and good governance.