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

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

Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, Nationwide Coordinator of HURIWA, cautioned the EFCC in a press release on Could 11, 2025, whereas condemning what it termed the most recent allegations leveled in opposition to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

He described the petition as an alleged politically motivated marketing campaign in opposition to 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 in opposition to Matawalle.

They questioned why the EFCC was allegedly foot-dragging in commencing an intensive probe into the allegation of monetary corruption in opposition to 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 Could 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 have now witnessed the fee launch an investigation into the alleged corruption of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Final yr, 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 protect 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 reasonably than a impartial, evidence-driven anti-graft physique.

“We should warning the EFCC to not permit 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 details, not public sentiment or stress from politically compromised curiosity teams.

“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 financial 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 exchange between October 18, 2023, and October 18, 2024, from suspects within the non-public and public sectors.

• In March 2025, the Govt Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, referred to 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 monetary 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 related details have been expended by the administration.