The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended the slow pace of prosecuting high-profile corruption cases, insisting that delays are a result of painstaking investigations and not institutional inertia.
The Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede, said complex corruption cases involving politically exposed persons require extensive evidence-gathering before charges can be filed in court.
Olukoyede stated this during an interview on Sunday Politics, aired by Channels Television, amid growing public criticism that the anti-graft agency shields influential politicians from prosecution.
According to him, the nature of public-sector corruption, especially cases involving foreign assets and international financial transactions, makes hasty prosecution legally risky.
“In 48 hours, I can investigate and arraign a cybercriminal once the devices are recovered,” Olukoyede said.
“But when it comes to public corruption or politically exposed persons, the process is far more complex. I cannot go to court when I am not ready.”
He stressed that the time taken before filing charges should not be interpreted as inactivity, noting that premature prosecutions often collapse in court due to weak evidence.
The EFCC boss also dismissed allegations that the agency selectively targets opposition figures while overlooking allies of the government, describing such claims as misleading and unfounded.
“There is nothing personal or political in our investigations,” he said, reacting to accusations by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who alleged political persecution.
“If Nigeria must move forward, the fight against corruption must be non-partisan. That is the position of the EFCC,” Olukoyede added.
He further explained that legal bottlenecks, jurisdictional limits, and cross-border financial trails often slow down investigations involving high-ranking officials.
Critics have continued to question the commission’s silence on several unresolved corruption allegations against powerful political figures, but the EFCC maintained that thorough investigations remain the only guarantee for successful prosecution and conviction.
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