The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has shared a dramatic account of how a former Nigerian governor, wanted by the anti-corruption agency, was arrested in a hotel in London after behaving suspiciously.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Lagos on Friday, Olukoyede narrated how the ex-governor, under investigation by the EFCC, fled to the United Kingdom just a day after leaving office. The event was attended by key stakeholders including filmmakers, musicians, legal practitioners, NGOs, media representatives, and bureau de change operators, and was focused on public sensitisation about naira abuse and financial crimes.
According to Olukoyede, the former governor—whose name he did not disclose—was celebrating his birthday in a London hotel shortly after arriving in the UK. During the party, the politician began spraying £50 and £10 notes in a manner that startled hotel staff.
“The hotel manager was alarmed because he had never witnessed such behavior. He thought the man was mentally unstable and called emergency services,” Olukoyede explained.
When the Metropolitan Police arrived, they reportedly attempted to restrain the former governor, even preparing to take him away in an ambulance. However, some of the politician’s associates—including two other Nigerian governors who had traveled to London for the party—intervened, clarifying that the man was not mentally ill but a former governor.
Olukoyede used the incident to highlight the brazenness of some public officials, noting that the EFCC’s work often extends beyond Nigerian borders.
He also revealed that the commission is currently investigating 18 serving governors.
“We no longer wait for them to leave office. As I speak, we are investigating about 18 sitting governors. Once they leave office, we will move to the next level,” he stated.
Olukoyede also warned that some corrupt politicians now hide stolen funds in cryptocurrencies, making asset recovery increasingly complex for anti-corruption agencies.