EFCC denies targeting opposition, insists on anti-graft mandate

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed claims by some political actors that it is being weaponised to target opposition politicians, insisting that its operations are guided strictly by law and its statutory mandate to combat corruption.

In a statement on its official X handle (Formerly Twitter) on Monday, the commission described allegations of “weaponisation of the EFCC,” “erosion of EFCC’s independence,” and “persecution of opposition politicians” as a misrepresentation of its role in investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes.

According to the EFCC, its authority is derived solely from its Establishment Act, which mandates it to investigate and prosecute all forms of economic and financial crimes, with the only exception being 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, adding that “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.”

The anti-graft agency noted that arrests and prosecutions carried out in the last two years under the current leadership show that members of both the ruling and opposition parties have faced investigation.

“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,” it stated.

The EFCC said insinuations that it was selectively targeting the opposition were “quite untenable,” arguing that accountability should not be politicised.

“Where is persecution in asking a suspect of corrupt practice to account for his sleaze?” the Commission asked, adding that “stealing, embezzlement of public funds, contract fraud, money laundering and other corrupt practices” were not excusable on political grounds.

It stressed that corruption “has no gender, religion, tribe, political party or other extraneous alignment,” warning that “selective outrage cannot be a defence against criminal investigation for graft.”

The commission further cautioned that attempts to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigations posed a greater threat to democracy than its lawful actions.

“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 statement said.

The EFCC maintained that it would not “succumb to blackmail or be railroaded into inconclusive investigations just to be seen to be non-selective,” while calling on Nigerians to support its anti-corruption efforts.

“We enjoin all well-meaning, reform-minded and patriotic Nigerians to join hands with the EFCC in this dignity-restoring mandate,” it added.

The statement follows recent political debates over alleged pressure on opposition figures, amid claims that anti-corruption agencies were being used to weaken rivals.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the Presidency also rejected similar allegations, with Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stating that President Bola Tinubu would never deploy the EFCC to harass opposition figures and that the agency operates independently within its statutory mandate.

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