The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was established in 2003 by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration for the purpose of fighting corruption in the country. However, 21 years on, with rising cases of internet fraud and corrupt practices by politicians, PAUL OKAH asks if the EFCC is actually winning the war against corruption.
To the average Nigerian, the fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the beginning of wisdom as the commission is reputed to be merciless and ruthless when it comes to the arrest and prosecution of corrupt politicians in the country.
From available records, the EFCC was established in 2002, but became operational in April 2003; in response to criticisms Nigeria faced from the international community over advanced fee fraud.
Having been established by an act of parliament, the EFCC was tasked with the mandate of investigating financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering.
However, years down the line, the EFCC is seemingly paying more attention to the arrest and prosecution of alleged internet fraudsters across states, with many Nigerians complaining that the commission is not doing enough in fighting corruption.
This year, in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Nigeria struggled to move from the 154th position the previous year to the 150th position among 180 countries assessed.
EFCC arrests twins, 26 others in Calabar
On June 8, the EFCC said on its Twitter page that it had arrested two identical twins, Takwan Potential and Takwan Peter, and 26 others for alleged internet fraud in Uyo Zonal Command, Cross River state.
The suspects were arrested on June 6, following credible intelligence linking them with suspected internet-related fraud.
Preliminary investigations showed that some of the suspects specialized in love scams, while others engaged in fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Items recovered from them include several mobile phones, laptops, five cars and a wifi device.
52 arrested in Ogun
Similarly, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC arrested 52 suspected internet fraudsters in Ogun.
He said that they were arrested during sting operations between June 7 and June 8, following intelligence received by the commission about the activities of some individuals involved in computer-related fraud in some areas of the state.
He said that items recovered from the suspects included mobile phones, laptop computers, saying the suspects would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
19 internet fraudsters jailed in Edo
Furthermore, on its Twitter handle on June 7, the EFCC revealed that Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday, June 6, convicted and sentenced 19 Internet fraudsters to prison for fraud.
They were arraigned separately on a one-count charge bordering on retention of proceeds of crime, fraudulent representation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsels, F.A. Jirbo, I.M Elodi, Saliu Ahmed, A.A. Ibrahim and AS Balariba to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders who had turned a new leaf.
Nevertheless, Justice Itsueli ordered that six vehicles – Lexus ES350, Black Mercedes ML350, Mercedes Benz C-30 model, Mercedes Benz ML 350, Lexus NX, Toyota Corolla- iPad, laptops, phones and the balance in the defendants’ bank accounts be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
EFCC should re-strategise – Expert
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a public affairs analyst in Abuja, Danjuma Musa, said the EFCC has been doing its best to tackle “official corruption” in Nigeria, but has to re-strategise and not focus on internet fraudsters as “the commission has the herculean task of convincing Nigerians that it is not selective in its prosecution or pandering to the whims of political heavyweights.”
He said: “Let me start by saying that the EFCC has been doing a lot of good job in the arrest, prosecution and conviction of corrupt politicians. It could be recalled that the EFCC secured landmark convictions of ex-Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau and ex-Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba, following proven corruption allegations. The duo stole billions of naira of public funds while they were governors. However, they were later pardoned by former President Muhammadu Buhari just last year, seemingly making a mess of EFCC’s effort in tackling corruption.
“Perhaps, the greatest argument would be that the EFCC is always in the news for arresting internet fraudsters, others known as yahoo yahoo boys. Almost on a daily basis, we read reports of EFCC officials raiding hotels and even homes to arrest supposed internet fraudsters. Nothing is heard of politicians being prosecuted. Even the EFCC officials have seemingly given up, perhaps because of the Nyako and Dariye pardon mentioned above.
“Therefore, the commission must have to re-strategise its modus operandi. It must convince Nigerians that corrupt politicians are under their watch list. The 2023 elections have come and gone, with many governors and ministers leaving offices. One would have thought that the media would be awash with news of EFCC arresting some of the governors and ministers, but there has not been any news to that regard. Therefore, the EFCC must double up in the fight against corruption; otherwise, the Commission can as well be scrapped off to save the country the much needed public funds.”
Group advises Tinubu
Following widespread allegation by Nigerians that the EFCC is allowing corrupt politicians to walk free, on June 9, in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Olumide Adetifa, a civil society group, Justice and Equity Forum, urged President Bola Tinubu not to allow interested individuals to interfere in the on-going investigation of former Ekiti Governor, Kayode Fayemi, by the EFCC over alleged money laundering.
Adetifa alleged that available information revealed that Fayemi was hobnobbing with a former governor of Kebbi state, who hails from the same state with the chairman of EFCC in an attempt to undermine or truncate his investigation by the agency, urging the president not to allow himself to be drawn into the arena of hindering justice by suspects.
He said: “It is only through collective efforts that we can safeguard the integrity of our justice system and ensure that justice is served. We firmly believe in upholding the principles of justice, accountability and transparency, and it is with great concern that we address this issue today.
“Any form of hobnobbing, such as engaging in close social or professional relationships with the intent to protect or shield a suspect from facing legal consequences, poses a significant threat to the integrity and effectiveness of criminal investigations. Such actions obstruct the pursuit of truth, compromise the rights of victims, and erode public trust in the legal system.
“The deliberate interference in investigations undermines the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and disregards the rights of victims and society as a whole, which seek justice and closure.
“It perpetuates a culture of impunity, allows criminals to evade justice, and fosters an environment where criminal activities can thrive without consequences. We must not allow such actions to go unchecked. It is only through collective efforts that we can safeguard the integrity of our justice system and ensure that justice is served.”
Anti-graft drive excellent
On May 25, while speaking at the graduation ceremony of 115 detective inspectors of the commission at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Akwanga, Nasarawa state, EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, rated former President Muhammadu Buhari high on tackling corruption, saying the commission, during Buhari’s eight-year regime, recorded more convictions than successive administrations.
Bawa boasted that the commission has made great strides in the fight against the ever-dynamic evil of economic and financial crimes and its attendant negative effects on our nation and economy.
Drawing comparisons between Buhari and his predecessors, the EFCC boss said, “The President’s anti-corruption drive has been excellent. In 2015, the EFCC only recorded 103 (convictions), but in his (Mr. Buhari) last year in office, 2022, we recorded 3,785 convictions and all credit goes to him.
“To the new cadets of this anti-graft agency, you have to be committed to the profession you have signed up for. It is crucial for you to know that law enforcement, especially in the field of fighting financial crimes, is a crucial national service. It is a career that takes years to build but requires only minutes to destroy.”