EFCC: Our anti-graft war targets corruption, not opposition politicians

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated that its anti-corruption operations are not directed at opposition politicians in Nigeria.

The EFCC, while dismissing allegations of politicisation as unfounded and misleading, said accusations suggesting that the commission is being used to witch-hunt opposition politicians are a distortion of its statutory responsibility to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement issued on Monday, December 15, 2025, stressed that its actions are guided strictly by its Establishment Act and not by political considerations.

It further stated that all suspects involved in corruption cases are treated equally, regardless of their political affiliation.

The EFCC noted that apart from political office holders currently enjoying constitutional immunity, no individual is shielded from investigation or prosecution.

The EFCC described corruption as a non-partisan crime, warning that attempts to portray lawful investigations as political persecution amount to selective outrage and an effort to evade accountability.

The commission stated: “Suspects of corrupt practices from the ruling party, opposition party and non- partisan actors have no immunity and are being equally investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC.

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“A check list of arrests and prosecution by the Commission in the last two years under the current leadership shows that strong members of the ruling party such as former governors, ministers and others not publicly known are sharing tables with a motley number of opposition politicians as well and others.

“The truth about the EFCC is that it is only faithful to its mandate and nothing else. This mandate is about tackling corruption and not any imaginary adversary or political motive.

“The Commission finds insinuation made by opposition politicians that ‘there is a discernible pattern of persecution of the opposition by the EFCC with the sole objective of weakening same for the benefit of the ruling APC’ quite untenable.

“The crucial question is, are opposition politicians being investigated or prosecuted by the Commission wrongly accused?

“What threatens democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but the attempt to intimidate or blackmail it into abandoning investigation allegations against corrupt opposition politicians for fear of accusations of selectivity.”

The anti-graft agency maintained that it would not be distracted or blackmailed into abandoning its mandate.

Reaffirming its commitment to fighting corruption in Nigeria, the EFCC enjoined Nigerians to support its efforts, stressing that the fight against graft is in the national interest and essential for strengthening public institutions.

The Star