A coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to persist in its anti-corruption efforts despite criticism from opposition figures who claim the agency is being manipulated by the presidency. This support follows a demand from former Attorney General Abubakar Malami that EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede step down from an investigation involving him due to alleged bias. In a statement released Wednesday, coalition coordinator Gloria Okolugbo argued that such accusations are merely tactics used by politicians to dodge legal inquiries. The group emphasized that the EFCC Act grants the commission the authority to investigate financial crimes and seize illicit assets from any individual, including former high-ranking officials. They rejected the idea of the Chairman’s recusal, stating that suspects do not have the legal right to choose who investigates them and that yielding to such demands would hinder justice. The coalition asserted that the investigation represents necessary accountability rather than personal persecution, especially given the disparity between the wealth of former officials and the struggles of the general public. They concluded by reaffirming their support for the agency’s mandate to track financial flows and urged the commission not to be intimidated by political theater, maintaining that no individual is above the law.
About The Author
