EFCC Chairman Olukoyede rejected the minister and DGS’s N500M gift during his mother’s burial.
Nigeria News Nalin The EFCC, EFCC, chairman of the EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede, revealed on Thursday how he rejected offers from government officials during his mother’s funeral in 2019.
The EFCC boss, who spoke at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, explained that the big gifts, including checks and drafts, were sent to him by ministers, directors, MDA and other senior government officials.
Olukoyede noted that he served as secretary of the committee when he buried his mother.
Olukoyede tells how he received the offer, and after returning to his family residence in Ekiti State before burial, he said his Gateman introduced him to the checks.
According to him, after reviewing the checks, he decided to return them.
The EFCC Chairman narrated: “I lost my mother in 2019 (at Ekiti State). We went to the funeral. I was the secretary of the EFCC at the time. People came. So I went to my residence the day before the funeral.
“Before I arrived at the small compound that I built a few years ago, I built it before I joined the EFCC and I saw about 17 cows in the yard, including pregnant cows.
“When I got home my disciples showed me a box and I saw a lot of checks and drafts from ministers, permanent secretary, director, agency DG, etc.
“So, I went in and showed it to my wife. She said, “Praise God.” I said, “What is praise God?” “By the time we put all the checks together, it counted close to N500M.
“I had a funeral in September 2019. By July 2020, I was under investigation. Now, let’s say all of these checks are based on traditional gifts for my account, and some of the MDAs we investigated in the EFCC, some of their directors, their DGs and their ministers sent me the checks.
“Usually, I mean burial, some give me a million, n200m, all of that. Even if I can be sure what to expect from their investigation, that won’t affect my decision, how will I explain in front of the group that they see the checks have been paid to my account?”
