The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has firmly denied allegations that its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, held a secret meeting with a serving governor and his predecessor from the South-South region prior to their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Commission’s rebuttal follows claims made by Paul Ibe, spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during a televised interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today. Ibe alleged that Olukoyede and the Solicitor General met with the unnamed politicians 48 hours before they switched allegiance to the ruling party, purportedly at a government lodge in the South-South.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement released on Friday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale described the claim as “patently fabricated and in bad taste,” stating that the EFCC Chairman is “apolitical” and committed to the Commission’s non-partisan mandate.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is outraged by the unfounded claims of Mr. Paul Ibe, alleging that Ola Olukoyede held a secret meeting with an unnamed politician,” the statement read. “Olukoyede has stressed at several fora that he is apolitical and the EFCC is totally wired against partisan tendencies.”
Oyewale urged the public to disregard the statement, describing it as a baseless political narrative not supported by any evidence.
Although Ibe did not identify the governors involved, PUNCH Online reports that Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in April. Additionally, the governor of Akwa Ibom has signaled an intention to join the ruling party.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to impartiality and lawful conduct in all its operations, stating that it will not be dragged into political controversies.
