EFCC's Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede
For those who believe Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bows to presidential whims, Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has a clear correction. The anti-corruption agency, he insists, is accountable solely to Nigerians through the National Assembly—not the presidency.
Olukoyede dropped this bombshell during an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. “My mandate does not allow me to get instructions from anybody, even the President,” he declared firmly. “My mandate does not say I should report to anybody with respect to the office of the President. I give account to Nigerians through the National Assembly.”
This statement comes amid heightened scrutiny of the EFCC’s independence. Established under the EFCC Act of 2004, the agency investigates financial crimes, money laundering, and corruption—plagues that have long eroded Nigeria’s economy.
Past chairmen faced accusations of selective prosecutions, often tied to the ruling party’s interests. Critics, including civil society groups like Transparency International, have long called for safeguards against executive interference.
Olukoyede’s remarks underscore the legal framework: Section 6 of the EFCC Act mandates the chairman to report annually to the National Assembly, ensuring legislative oversight. “We’re not a tool for political vendettas,” he added, highlighting recent high-profile probes into politicians and businessmen across party lines.
Under his watch since June 2024, the EFCC has secured over 4,000 convictions and recovered billions in assets, per agency reports.
The disclosure reignites debates on institutional autonomy in Nigeria’s democracy. Opposition figures like the PDP have accused the Tinubu administration of meddling, citing arrests of vocal critics.
Olukoyede’s position could bolster public trust, signaling the EFCC’s resolve to target graft impartially—from embezzlement in public contracts to cyber fraud rings.
Nigerians have hailed the clarification on social media, with #EFCCIndependent trending. “Finally, accountability to the people, not palaces,” one user posted.
Yet skeptics demand proof in action, urging probes into sacred cows like former governors shielded by immunity.
As anti-corruption battles intensify ahead of 2027 elections, Olukoyede’s words set a bold tone: the EFCC serves the nation, not any one leader.
