The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has expressed fresh concern over the level of alleged corruption in Nigeria’s public sector.

He said the commission receives more than 20,000 petitions on public corruption every year.

Speaking in Abuja at an event marking the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General Kanu Agabi, Olukoyede described many of the cases as deeply troubling. He noted that some public officers take money almost continuously, and that reviewing the case files can be distressing.

The EFCC chairman revealed that investigations often show dramatic changes in the financial status of some officials. He said certain individuals who had less than ₦100,000 in their accounts before taking office were later linked to millions of dollars and naira after only three or four years in public service.

Some of those investigated were also found to have acquired large numbers of houses, sometimes as many as 50 or even 200. Olukoyede warned that a nation cannot develop with such practices continuing among people in power.

He stressed that public office holders must be ready to account for their stewardship and that transparency remains essential. The ICPC chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, who also spoke at the event, called for integrity education to start early in schools so that younger generations can reject the culture of corruption.

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