Benin City, Edo State — Friday, October 24, 2025
Deputy Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, on Friday, October 24, 2025, formally assumed office as the new Acting Zonal Director of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.
Sa’ad, a seasoned anti-corruption officer and experienced investigator, brings to his new role several years of expertise in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes. He takes over from Assistant Commander of the Commission (ACE I) Effa Okim, who has been redeployed to head the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
Before his latest appointment, Sa’ad served as the Acting Zonal Director of the Kano Zonal Directorate. He has also held several strategic positions within the Commission, including Ag. Director of the Gombe Zonal Directorate and Head, Legal and Prosecution Department at both the Sokoto and Gombe Zonal Directorates.
Following the official handover ceremony in Benin, Sa’ad, in his inaugural address, pledged to consolidate and expand upon the achievements of his predecessor. He urged staff to remain committed to the Commission’s operational ethics, emphasizing discipline, professionalism, and adherence to the EFCC Staff Regulations.
“I work by the books, and we are guided by that as staff of the Commission,” he stated. “We will work together as a team to build on what has been achieved, and God willing, we shall double it. The Executive Chairman has done so much for us as staff, so we should reciprocate that by giving him good results.”
Reaffirming his commitment to the EFCC’s core values, Sa’ad reminded staff of the Commission’s zero tolerance for corruption, adding that integrity and excellence would remain the guiding principles under his leadership.
“For me, it is zero tolerance for corruption,” he declared.
DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad has attended several professional trainings both locally and internationally, including courses at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). He is also a Fellow of the Security Institute and a member of several other professional organizations.
With his wealth of experience and proven dedication to the anti-graft cause, Sa’ad’s appointment is expected to further strengthen the EFCC’s fight against corruption within the Benin Zone and beyond.
