A Test of Integrity
Imagine being offered half a billion naira during a deeply personal moment like your mother’s funeral. Would you take it? For Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the answer was a resounding no. In a jaw-dropping revelation at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, Olukoyede shared how he turned down N500 million in “gifts” from high-ranking government officials during his mother’s burial in 2019. Here’s the full story.
The Shocking Discovery: A Box Full of Cheques
In September 2019, Olukoyede returned to his family home in Ekiti State to prepare for his mother’s funeral. But what awaited him was far from ordinary. As he arrived at his modest compound, he was greeted by an unexpected sight: 17 cows, including pregnant ones, had been brought as gifts. But that was just the beginning.
His gatekeeper handed him a box filled with cheques and drafts. Inside were offerings from ministers, directors, permanent secretaries, and heads of government agencies. The total? A staggering N500 million.
The Dilemma: To Accept or Reject?
Olukoyede, who was then the Secretary of the EFCC, knew the implications of accepting such “gifts.” He immediately showed the box to his wife, who responded with a cheerful, “Praise God!” But Olukoyede wasn’t celebrating.
He recounted, “I said, ‘Praise God for what?’ By the time we put all the cheques together, it counted close to N500 million.” The offers ranged from N1 million to N20 million, all under the guise of traditional burial gifts.
The Bold Decision: Returning the Money
Olukoyede didn’t hesitate. He decided to return every single cheque and draft. Why? Because he knew the risks. Many of the officials who sent the gifts were under investigation by the EFCC. Accepting the money would have compromised his integrity and made it impossible to explain the transactions if questioned.
“How would I have explained before a panel that they saw cheques paid into my account?” he asked.
The Aftermath: A Lesson in Integrity
By July 2020, less than a year after the burial, Olukoyede found himself under investigation. Had he accepted the N500 million, his career and reputation could have been ruined. His decision to reject the offers not only protected his integrity but also reinforced his credibility as a leader in the fight against corruption.
Why This Story Matters
Olukoyede’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of ethical leadership. In a country where corruption often seems pervasive, his actions stand as a beacon of hope. It’s a call to all public officials to prioritize integrity over personal gain, even in the face of temptation.
