The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused certain politicians and interest groups of orchestrating media attacks to undermine its anti-corruption efforts.
In a statement, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said that individuals with “vested interests in suspects being investigated or facing prosecution” were behind the attacks.
He added that these people had recruited politicians, academics, “so-called civil society activists” and Nigerian fugitives abroad to launch campaigns against the commission and Ola Olukoyede its chairman.
The anti-graft agency spokesperson said the effort is intended to depict the EFCC as politically biased in the discharge of its duties.
He added that the campaign seeks to intimidate the commission and deter it from investigating opposition figures for fear of being labelled partisan.
“This campaign is likely to intensify as the political space becomes charged, in the months leading to the 2027 general election,” the statement reads.
“The commission wishes to put those recruited into this ignoble enterprise on notice that their activities are under close watch, and EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
Reiterating the EFCC’s non-partisan approach, he emphasised that investigations and prosecutions cover both ruling and opposition party members.
“Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the commission,” he said.“
As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the commission.”
Oyewale stressed that the commission’s actions are in line with its Establishment Act and the Constitution, and are not intended to defend any individual or group.
“Additionally, the Commission has no alliance or working relationship with any political party. All these facts are unassailable,” he added.
“The EFCC will not be pressured or blackmailed into making public disclosures of politically exposed persons being investigated for one alleged corruption case or the other.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the EFCC spokesperson concluded.