The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rejected claims by opposition politicians that it is being used as a political tool to harass them, insisting its operations are guided solely by law and evidence.
The statement, released on Monday, December 15, by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, followed growing allegations of bias in the agency’s anti-corruption efforts.
In August, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had accused the federal government of weaponising the EFCC against opposition leaders.
The party claimed the detention of former Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal and the Commission’s “urgent” request for documents relating to the tenure of ex-Imo governor Emeka Ihedioha were politically motivated.
Former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami also accused the EFCC of witch-hunting after his arrest and detention over corruption allegations.
Reacting on Monday, Oyewale described all such claims as “a deliberate misrepresentation of the Commission’s work.”
“The Commission’s weapon is its Establishment Act which provides the ground norm of its activities. The Act mandates the Commission to investigate and prosecute all economic and financial crimes,” he said.
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He added that the EFCC applies the same standard to all suspects, regardless of party affiliation or social status.
“The only exception to criminal prosecution by the Commission are political officers granted constitutional immunity during their tenure,” he explained.
According to Oyewale, the Commission has in the past two years investigated members of both the ruling party and the opposition, including former governors and ministers, disproving claims of political bias.
He said attempts to paint the agency as partisan threaten democracy more than its work against corruption.
“Where is persecution in asking a suspect of corrupt practice to account for his sleaze? Is stealing, embezzlement of public funds, contract fraud, money laundering and other corrupt practices excusable for some?” Oyewale asked.
“Corruption has no gender, religion, tribe, political party or other extraneous alignment,” he added.
“Selective outrage cannot be a defence against criminal investigation for graft. The crucial question is, are opposition politicians being investigated or prosecuted by the Commission wrongly accused?”
He concluded that efforts to intimidate or blackmail the EFCC into avoiding investigations of powerful figures “pose a far greater danger to democracy than the agency doing its job.”