The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is weaponising the agency against opposition politicians.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Wednesday, Olukoyede described the accusations as a distraction from “the good work” being done by the President.
He emphasised that Tinubu’s focus remains on performance and delivery across government departments and agencies.
“Nigerians should appreciate the type of president we have at this time. I say this sincerely, not just because of my position,” Olukoyede said.
“Anyone working with Mr President—Federal Executive Council members, heads of ministries or agencies—will tell you his main concern is results: ‘What have you done? How much have you recovered?’ He’s not interested in distractions; he is a working president,” he added.
More APC Members Prosecuted than Opposition – EFCC Chair
Addressing accusations that the EFCC targets dissenting voices, Olukoyede stated that more members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have been prosecuted than those from opposition parties.
“Our statistics on investigations and prosecutions, particularly high-profile cases, show that we have perhaps prosecuted more members of the ruling party,” he said.
He argued that refusing to investigate opposition figures for fear of political backlash would be unjust.
“We’ve filed charges against notable figures in the APC. To turn a blind eye to offences by members of other parties would be unfair and a disservice to our mandate,” he stated.
27 EFCC Staff Dismissed for Misconduct
Olukoyede also confirmed that 27 EFCC staff members have been dismissed for misconduct since he took office. He stressed that integrity within the organisation is non-negotiable.
“To fight corruption effectively, we must lead by example. Without integrity, the whole mission collapses,” he said.
He added that further internal investigations are ongoing, and additional disciplinary actions are expected.