EFCC Chairman Vows To Pursue Public Fund Thieves Across All Political Parties.
Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling corruption impartially, declaring that anyone found guilty of stealing public funds will face scrutiny, regardless of their political affiliation. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Olukoyede dismissed allegations that the EFCC disproportionately targets opposition figures while shielding members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If we discover that you have stolen money, you will have questions to answer, whether you are from the APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, or SDP,” Olukoyede stated. “Irrespective of your political affiliation, it is our duty to do the right thing. What drives our processes is whether you have allegedly committed an offence and if we have discovered an issue you need to answer for.”
The EFCC boss was responding to growing criticism that the agency’s actions appear politically motivated. However, Olukoyede firmly rejected these claims, insisting that the EFCC operates solely on evidence and adherence to the rule of law. He revealed that the Commission’s records show a higher number of APC members have faced charges than politicians from other parties in high-profile cases.
“If you check the statistics of our work in investigation and prosecution, particularly high-profile cases, you will find more members of the ruling party among those we have investigated and filed charges against,” he said. “To close our eyes to opposition members simply because of what critics might say would be unfair and an injustice to us.”
Olukoyede also addressed public concerns over the pace of the investigation into Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, who is accused of diverting ₦30 billion (approximately $24 million) in public funds. Edu was suspended in January 2024 following allegations that she transferred ₦585 million ($640,000) to a personal account.
Responding to accusations that the EFCC is delaying the probe, Olukoyede explained, “We started the investigation of Betta Edu in January 2024; there are many angles to the investigation. We are taking our time to uncover all that we need to uncover and have facts.”
The EFCC chairman’s remarks underscore the agency’s determination to uphold its mandate without bias, amid ongoing public scrutiny. As investigations continue, Olukoyede called for fair judgement of the Commission’s efforts, emphasising its commitment to rooting out corruption across Nigeria’s political spectrum.
