Alleged Corruption: Group cautions EFCC towards turning into political witch-hunts software in Nigeria

The Human Rights Writers Affiliation of Nigeria (HURIWA) has alleged that the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee “dangers turning into a software for political witch-hunts” in Nigeria moderately than a impartial, evidence-driven anti-graft physique within the struggle towards corruption.

Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, Nationwide Coordinator of HURIWA, cautioned the EFCC in an announcement on Might 11, 2025, whereas condemning what it termed the newest allegations leveled towards the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

He described the petition as an alleged politically motivated marketing campaign towards him.

A number of stories earlier said that some protesters from the All Progressives Congress Younger Leaders Alliance approached the company’s headquarters in Abuja to submit their petition towards Matawalle.

They questioned why the EFCC was allegedly foot-dragging in commencing a radical probe into the allegation {of financial} corruption towards the previous governor of Zamfara State.

“Many petitions have been submitted on the headquarters of the fee, notable ones submitted by the APC Akida Discussion board on Might third, 2024, and a follow-up petition on September thirtieth, 2024, urging the fee to proceed with its investigation of the previous Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle. 

“We’ve witnessed the fee launch an investigation into the alleged corruption of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Final 12 months, the fee arrested former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State over alleged corruption. If all these former governors and ministers weren’t above the legislation and the EFCC, who would defend the previous governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, from investigation? He’s not a governor now. Who’s stopping EFCC from doing its work?” the chief of the protesters and convener of the group, Mohammed Ireji, said. 

HURIWA Reacts 

• Reacting to the event, HURIWA expressed concern that the EFCC dangers turning into a software for political witch-hunts moderately than a impartial, evidence-driven anti-graft physique.

“We should warning the EFCC to not enable itself for use to settle political scores or to undermine loyal public servants who’re actively contributing to nationwide stability. 

“These petitions usually are not new; they’ve been regurgitated with fanfare to serve sinister aims. We urge the Fee to behave solely throughout the limits of verifiable proof and due course of,” the assertion partly reads. 

• Whereas Onwubiko acknowledged the necessity for accountability and transparency in governance, he emphasised that such ideas should not be manipulated to serve parochial or ethnic pursuits.
• He urged the EFCC to independently and professionally scrutinize any petition earlier than initiating an investigation.
• HURIWA insisted that the fee should act on information, not public sentiment or stress from politically compromised curiosity {groups}.

“We strongly oppose selective justice and trial by media. Nigeria’s democracy have to be anchored on the rule of legislation and due course of, not on orchestrated mob actions disguised as civil protests,” Onwubiko concluded. 

• HURIWA warned that the development of weaponizing establishments just like the EFCC for inner vendettas units a harmful precedent for Nigeria’s democracy and {economic} prosperity.

What to Know 

The EFCC is one in every of Nigeria’s frontline anti-graft businesses.

In October 2024, the Fee disclosed that it had recovered N248 billion, $105.4 million, and different foreign currency between October 18, 2023, and October 18, 2024, from suspects within the non-public and public sectors.

• In March 2025, the Government Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, known as for higher dedication to integrity throughout the company, with the intention of surpassing the Fee’s N365.4 billion financial recoveries in 2024.
• The EFCC depends largely on petitions, intelligence, and investigation earlier than commencing the prosecution of a {financial} crime suspect.
• In the meantime, in 2023, the Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, had restrained the EFCC from additional inviting, arresting or detaining current or previous officers of the Zamfara State authorities, together with the outgone governor Bello Matawalle with respect to how funds meant for safety votes, estacodes, touring allowances or any comparable information have been expended by the administration.