The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has maintained that its investigations and prosecutions are devoid of political bias, stressing that there are no “sacred cows” in its anti-corruption efforts.
The clarification follows allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the EFCC is being used by the federal government to target and discredit opposition leaders. Bolaji Abdullahi, interim national publicity secretary of the ADC, accused the commission of engaging in a “choreographed media trial” against opposition figures, citing the overnight detention of Aminu Tambuwal, former Sokoto State governor, and the commission’s “urgent” request for details on the seven-month tenure of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo State.
In a statement on Tuesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissed the ADC’s claims as “a rude shock and unwarranted blame game.” He stated that “every objective and discerning watcher of events in the national political scene would admit that the commission has been circumspect and dispassionate in the exercise of its mandate,” adding that “every corruption allegation deserves to be investigated, and there is no constraint of time and season in criminal investigations.”
Oyewale emphasised that the EFCC operates a non-partisan mandate, pointing out that both ruling party members and opposition politicians — including serving and former governors and ministers — have been investigated. “Available records in our courts showed that several political figures of all divides are answering charges of alleged economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption,” he said. He further noted that “it is also public knowledge that the EFCC is busy investigating some key figures of the ruling party owing to allegations of corrupt practices,” and that many serving governors from different political backgrounds are currently under investigation.
He stressed that the commission “will not be blackmailed into making full disclosures of its discreet investigations of any state or non-state actor, no matter the provocation.” Acknowledging the ADC’s statement that “the EFCC does not belong to the APC, it belongs to the Nigerian people. It is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party,” Oyewale said, “nothing can be farther from this truth.” He urged political groups to focus on their activities and allow the commission to carry out its duties, adding that “nothing will make an innocent person answer any charge from the EFCC.”
“The “opposition figures” the ADC is trying unsuccessfully to white-wash know in their hearts that they have issues that necessitated their invitations by the commission,” Oyewale said, stressing that “fraud is fraud, corruption is corruption,” and reiterating that there is no “sacred cow” in the fight against corruption.
Quoting EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede, Oyewale added: “If I am not condemned for investigating both former and serving strong ruling party governors and ministers, I should not be condemned for also investigating opposition figures.” The EFCC urged Nigerians to ignore politically motivated statements designed to inflame tensions and distract from the real issue — tackling corruption.