The Presidency has stated that the recent court injunctions against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in about ten states, along with expected Supreme Court verdicts regarding the agency’s legality, are indicative of troubling times for the EFCC in the country.
A Supreme Court case, for which judgment is pending, was filed by the Kogi State Government and over ten other states.
This legal challenge questions the EFCC’s authority to investigate public officeholders and other individuals linked to financial misconduct, cybercrime, and various illegal activities in Nigeria.
In contrast to other law enforcement agencies that are often called upon by the public to act against offenders, the EFCC is currently facing legal challenges from Nigerians and institutions that should support its efforts to combat corruption, rather than create obstacles.
The Presidency suggested that these court cases represent a strategic attempt to undermine the anti-graft agency, especially after it presented evidence that supported its actions in several high-profile cases.
Reports indicate that these legal challenges arose following unsuccessful attempts to persuade President Bola Tinubu to restrain EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who has been a significant concern for many youths involved in cybercrime, as well as for both current and former public officials within his first year in office.
This concern is underscored by statistics showing that the EFCC achieved over 3,000 convictions and is currently prosecuting more than seven high-profile cases within Olukoyede’s first year of leadership.
These achievements have been possible due to the President’s commitment to non-interference in EFCC operations after appointing Olukoyede, aiming to significantly reduce misappropriation in public offices across the nation.
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Despite these impressive records, they have become a source of anxiety for many public officeholders and private individuals.
Interestingly, these same individuals, including various Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice from the states challenging the EFCC’s authority, had previously praised the agency’s efforts.
Regarding the attempts to silence the agency amidst its commendable record in its first year, a Presidential aide revealed that many are aware of the President’s commitment to allowing anti-graft agencies, especially the EFCC, to pursue looters and financial crime offenders throughout the country.
This ongoing situation reflects why numerous individuals, including former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, have reportedly declined to respond to EFCC invitations and court summons.
The aide argued that the Tinubu-led government’s expectation was for legal practitioners from the states, who had previously praised the EFCC, to discourage their governors from filing a suit regarding the legality of the anti-graft agency at the Supreme Court.
He noted that the administration was surprised to see these governors move forward with the lawsuit without receiving adequate legal advice, which might have cautioned them about the implications of their actions and the precedent they could set for future generations.
The suit was filed just three months after the Body of State Attorneys-General of Nigeria visited the EFCC chairman in Abuja, where they commended him for the agency’s progressive leadership and innovative approaches to combating economic and financial crimes, as well as corruption.
