By Ayomide Otitoju
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims that its operations are targeted at opposition figures, insisting that its investigations and prosecutions are carried out without regard to political affiliation.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede stated this during an interview aired on Sunday Politics, where he addressed concerns surrounding the commission’s investigation of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Olukoyede maintained that the case was not politically motivated and had no personal undertone.
“Let me tell you about that particular former attorney-general you are talking about—there is nothing personal in this matter,” he said. “If Nigeria is to move forward, all of us must agree that this fight must be carried out without partisanship.”
According to the EFCC chairman, the investigation into Malami began long before his appointment as head of the commission. He explained that he merely inherited the case file and ensured that the probe was conducted professionally and thoroughly.
“He has been under investigation for almost two and a half years. The file was not opened under me,” Olukoyede said. “For over two years that I have been in office, we have been painstakingly carrying out the investigation to establish the alleged offences. Not until I was convinced that we had a watertight case did we proceed.”
The EFCC has since arraigned the immediate past Attorney-General, his wife, and his son on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering. On January 7, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the defendants bail in the sum of ₦500 million with two sureties.
The judge ruled that the sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa and ordered the defendants to deposit their travel documents with the court.
Prior to the grant of bail, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State accused the EFCC of engaging in a witch-hunt and political victimisation in the prosecution of Malami. The party alleged that selective enforcement by law enforcement agencies poses a serious challenge to the country’s democracy.
