The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has rejected claims that it targets opposition politicians, insisting that its mandate is strictly based on law and the fight against corruption.
In a statement shared on its official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the commission dismissed allegations of “weaponisation of the EFCC,” “erosion of EFCC’s independence,” and “persecution of opposition politicians” as misrepresentations of its statutory role in investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes.
The EFCC explained that its authority stems solely from the Establishment Act, which allows it to investigate and prosecute all forms of financial wrongdoing, except political office holders enjoying constitutional immunity during their tenure. “The Commission’s weapon is its Establishment Act which provides the ground norm of its activities,” the statement said. “Suspects of corrupt practices from the ruling party, opposition party and non-partisan actors have no immunity and are being equally investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC.”
Okay News reports that the agency emphasized that arrests and prosecutions over the last two years show that individuals from both ruling and opposition parties have been investigated. “A checklist of arrests and prosecution by the Commission in the last two years under the current leadership shows that strong members of the ruling party such as former governors, ministers and others not publicly known are sharing tables with a motley number of opposition politicians as well and others,” the statement added.
The commission also addressed claims of selective targeting, stating, “Where is persecution in asking a suspect of corrupt practice to account for his sleaze? Stealing, embezzlement of public funds, contract fraud, money laundering and other corrupt practices are not excusable on political grounds.”
It further warned against attempts to intimidate or blackmail the agency, saying, “What threatens democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but the attempt to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigation allegations against corrupt opposition politicians.” The commission appealed to Nigerians to support its anti-corruption mandate, emphasizing that “selective outrage cannot be a defence against criminal investigation for graft.”
