The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied allegations that it is targeting opposition politicians, insisting that its operations are strictly guided by law and focused solely on the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the anti-graft agency described claims that it is being used to persecute opposition parties as a deliberate misrepresentation of its statutory mandate.
The Commission said its activities are governed by the EFCC Establishment Act, which mandates it to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes without regard to political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or gender.
According to the EFCC, the only individuals exempt from prosecution are political office holders who enjoy constitutional immunity while in office.
It noted that its records over the past two years show that suspects drawn from both the ruling party and opposition parties, including former governors and ministers, have been investigated and prosecuted without bias.
“First, 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,” the statement read in part. “The only exception to criminal prosecution by the Commission are political office holders granted constitutional immunity during their tenure. 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 EFCC stressed that corruption has no political identity and that allegations of selective prosecution cannot serve as a shield against criminal investigation.
It dismissed as untenable claims that its actions are aimed at weakening opposition parties for the benefit of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), questioning whether the demand for accountability from individuals accused of corruption amounts to persecution.
The Commission warned that attempts to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigations under the guise of defending democracy pose a greater threat to democratic governance than the lawful enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
It further alleged that criticism from some opposition figures is an attempt to secure de facto immunity from prosecution for politicians who are no longer in government, a move it said is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and the EFCC Act.
Reaffirming its resolve, the EFCC said it would not succumb to pressure or abandon investigations in order to appear non-selective, cautioning that any attempt to amend its enabling law to satisfy political interests must be approached strictly in the national interest.
“The Commission will not succumb to blackmail or be railroaded into inconclusive investigations just to be seen to be non-selective in its operations,” it declared.
The EFCC also called on Nigerians to support its mandate, describing the fight against corruption as a collective national responsibility aimed at restoring the dignity of the country.
