The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to tackling financial crimes without fear or favour, declaring that no individual or political party is above the law.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Olukoyede addressed growing public concerns and accusations of political bias in the EFCC’s operations. He stressed that the anti-graft agency remains dedicated to its constitutional mandate of holding corrupt individuals accountable, irrespective of their political affiliations.
EFCC Will Prosecute Financial Crimes Across All Political Parties
“If we discover that you have stolen money, you will have questions to answer, whether you belong to the APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, or SDP,” Olukoyede said.
He emphasized that the EFCC’s investigative and prosecutorial processes are guided solely by evidence of wrongdoing, not by political considerations.
“For us, the issue is: have you allegedly committed an offence? Have we uncovered evidence that requires you to answer to the law? That is what drives our processes and actions,” he added.
More APC Members Prosecuted Than Opposition Figures — Olukoyede
Addressing allegations that the EFCC has disproportionately targeted opposition politicians, Olukoyede revealed that statistical records show a higher number of prosecutions involving members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) than those from other parties.
“If you check the statistics of our work — in terms of investigations and prosecutions, especially high-profile cases — you will perhaps find more members of the ruling party among those we have prosecuted,” he stated.
He argued that exempting opposition politicians from investigation to avoid public criticism would undermine justice and the Commission’s integrity.
“It would be unfair for us to turn a blind eye to financial crimes committed by individuals simply because they do not belong to the ruling party. Justice must be served, no matter who is involved,” Olukoyede affirmed.
EFCC Reiterates Neutrality in Anti-Corruption War
The EFCC Chairman maintained that the Commission’s operations are impartial and guided by facts and the rule of law, assuring Nigerians that all cases are treated on their merit.
This statement comes amid ongoing debates about the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies and their role in promoting accountability within the political class.
