The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, on Thursday dismissed allegations that the commission targets opposition figures, insisting that its actions are strictly guided by evidence and due process.
Olukoyede spoke in Abuja at the VON Forum organised by the Voice of Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
He maintained that the EFCC’s anti-corruption operations are insulated from partisan politics, stressing that recent arrests and prosecutions were based on verifiable investigations rather than political considerations.
The EFCC boss cited the arrest of a politically exposed person over the alleged diversion of about $35m meant for the establishment of a refinery, lamenting that sections of the media hastily framed the action as a witch-hunt without interrogating the facts.
According to him, “When I arraign members of the ruling party, nobody makes noise. But the moment someone from the opposition is prosecuted, it is labelled political persecution.”
Olukoyede called on the media to uphold professionalism and editorial integrity, noting that responsible journalism remains critical to the success of Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
Highlighting the commission’s achievements, he disclosed that assets recovered from corrupt officials are being repurposed for public use, citing the building currently housing the Voice of Nigeria as proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC.
“That edifice is a product of recovered looted funds. It shows that the fight against economic and financial crimes is yielding results,” he said.
The EFCC chairman also revealed plans to deepen regional collaboration through the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, which he chairs.
He said the anti-corruption network, recently adopted by the Economic Community of West African States, would soon commence full operations to facilitate intelligence sharing and cross-border investigations across West Africa.
“We will remove barriers to investigations across the region and strengthen cooperation to combat financial crimes and terrorism financing,” he added.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, commended Olukoyede for his participation, noting that Nigeria has continued to play a leading role in promoting peace and stability within the ECOWAS sub-region through diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts.
Ndace reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to regional integration and democratic governance, describing the country as a pillar of stability in West Africa.
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