EFCC Reacts as Atiku's Camp Claims Agency's Boss Held Secret Meeting With Unnamed Governor

• The EFCC has opened up after Paul Ibe, spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, made a strong allegation against the anti-graft agency chairman
• Ibe, on Thursday, May 22, alleged that EFCC boss Ola Olukoyede held a secret meeting with an unnamed politician
• According to Ibe, the ruling party is using EFCC and Olukoyede to pressure past governors and current governors to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

FCT, Abuja - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 23, said it is "outraged" by the "unfounded claims" of Paul Ibe, spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President.

Legit.ng reports that Ibe had alleged that Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, held a secret meeting with an unnamed politician.

Ibe, who was a guest on Channels Television's 'Politics Today' on Thursday, May 22, 2025, bared his mind on issues relating to opposition politics and defections.

However, the Nigerian anti-graft agency stated that Ibe's allegations of Olukoyede and Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the solicitor-general of the federation’s alleged meeting with an unnamed governor 48 hours before his defection to the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) "are patently fabricated and in bad taste".

The EFCC said Olukoyede has stressed at several fora that he is apolitical and the agency is "totally wired against partisan tendencies."

The EFCC, therefore, asked Nigerians to disregard the alleged meeting with the unnamed governor "as it only exists in the imagination of Ibe."

2027 election: Defection saga

Although the 2027 election is still 20 months away, political parties have begun earnest preparation ahead of the polls.

This comes as governors and lawmakers who won their seats under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag have begun to defect to the APC.

Besides the over 300 PDP members who reportedly defected to APC between February 2024 and February 2025, top political figures and lawmakers have also defected.

In April, the Governor of Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori, shook the polity when he announced the defection of the entire political structure of the state to the APC.

He announced that his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, lawmakers in both the senate and house of representatives as well as all state assembly lawmakers have decamped to the APC.

Recently, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state directed all commissioners and political appointees to defect with him from the PDP to the APC or resign from their positions.

Political observers expect more switch to the APC in the coming months.

EFCC: Court reserves ruling on Fayose’s submission

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the federal high court in Lagos reserved ruling on the no-case submission filed by Ayodele Fayose, a prominent former governor of Ekiti state.

The court took action in Fayose's trial over alleged money laundering and theft totalling N6.9 billion.

At the latest trial, the judge reserved his decision (on the no-case submission by Fayose) after hearing arguments from Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel to Fayose (first defendant); Olalekan Ojo (SAN), representing the second defendant (Spotless Investment Limited) and Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the EFCC's lawyer.

Source: Legit.ng