EFCC chairman: How ex-Nigerian gov evading arrest was nabbed in London hotel

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed how a former governor evading the arrest of the anti-graft agency was apprehended in a hotel in London, the United Kingdom.

The EFCC chairman disclosed this during an engagement with critical stakeholders comprising movie producers, musicians, non-governmental organisations, media, bureau de change operators and legal practitioners, among others, in Lagos on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Olukoyede, while speaking at the event organised to sensitise stakeholders on naira mutilation and abuse, said the former governor was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London because a hotel manager thought he was mad for spraying pounds.

Olukoyede, who failed to disclose the name of the former governor, revealed that the latter absconded to the UK a day after he handed over power.

He said: “There was a time in this country when we (EFCC) were investigating a governor.

“This governor was investigated while he was in office. Immediately, he finished his tenure, the following day, he took off to England to avoid EFCC’s arrest.

“Coincidentally, that week happens to be his birthday. He organised a birthday party in the hotel where he was staying.

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“While the party was going on, he started spraying pounds – 50 bills and 10 bills. So the manager of the hotel was called. He came down and saw the former governor spraying pounds. He had never seen such a thing in his life, so he had to call 911.

“When the police officers came, he asked that they help arrest the former governor. The former governor was arrested, and they wanted to put him in an ambulance.

“His friends, colleagues, and two governors, who went to London to celebrate with him, had to intervene. They said the former governor was not a mad man because the hotel manager thought he was mad.”

The EFCC boss further disclosed that the anti-graft agency is currently investigating 18 sitting governors.

Olukoyede added: “We don’t wait until they finish their tenures before we investigate.

“As I’m talking to you, we’re investigating about 18 governors who are still serving. When they leave office, we will go to the next level.”

The Star