The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly rejected what it described as an “unprovoked attack” from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its handling of cases involving politically exposed persons.
In a statement issued to the press, the commission said it was both surprised and disappointed by what it considers an unjustified blame game from the opposition party.
EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, directly accused the ADC of attempting to politicise ongoing corruption investigations and shield certain individuals from accountability. He was responding to the party’s allegations that recent invitations issued to some opposition figures were “politically motivated” and based on “old cases.”
Olukoyede dismissed these claims as self-serving and diversionary, describing them as efforts to whitewash individuals with corruption allegations to answer. “There is no time limit in criminal investigations. Fraud is fraud. Corruption is corruption. There are no sacred cows or partisan considerations in our work,” he stated. “Nothing will make an innocent person answer any charge from the EFCC.”
He stressed that the commission’s investigative scope cuts across party lines, citing ongoing probes involving serving governors, ministers, and senior figures from the ruling party. He argued that his previous investigations into government officials attracted no backlash, so probing opposition leaders should not be a cause for condemnation.
According to Olukoyede, court records show that politicians from different political parties are currently on trial for alleged economic and financial crimes. “Many serving state governors of various political colours are on the EFCC radar,” he added. He also made it clear that the commission would not be pressured into revealing details of ongoing investigations, regardless of any provocation.
While acknowledging the ADC’s remark that the EFCC “belongs to the Nigerian people” and is “funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party,” Olukoyede maintained that this was precisely why the agency must act with complete impartiality and integrity.
He urged political parties to concentrate on their activities and avoid distracting the EFCC from carrying out its constitutional duties. “The opposition figures the ADC is trying to defend know in their hearts that they have issues that necessitated our invitations. The only immunity against investigation is accountability and probity,” he said.
Olukoyede called on Nigerians to disregard politically charged statements that could heat up the polity and divert attention from the “pillage of the national treasury.”
Read the full press statement below:
EFCC PRESS STATEMENT
We Run a Non-Partisan Mandate
“ If I am not condemned for investigating both former and serving strong ruling party Governors and Ministers, I should not be condemned for also investigating opposition figures
– EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede
The African Democratic Congress, ADC’s unprovoked attack on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, concerning its handling of cases involving politically exposed persons from every divide, came as a rude shock and unwarranted blame game.
Every objective and discerning watcher of events in the national political scene, would admit that the Commission has been circumspect and dispassionate in the exercise of its mandate.
The ADC’s claims that “Opposition Coalition have received EFCC summons that are clearly politically motivated. These are not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations to intimidate key opposition figures”, are clearly self-serving, diversionary, narrow and idle. The question is, what determines “fresh cases” and old cases? Every corruption allegation deserves to be investigated and there is no constraint of time and season in criminal investigations.
Available records in our courts showed that several political figures of all divide are answering charges of alleged economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. It is also public knowledge that the EFCC is busy investigating some key figures of the ruling party owing to allegations of corrupt practices. Besides, many serving state governors of various political colouration are on the investigative radar of the Commission. The Commission will not be blackmailed into making full disclosures of its discreet investigations of any state or non-state actor, no matter the provocation.
The ADC was right to have admitted that “The EFCC does not belong to the APC. It belongs to the Nigerian people. It is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party.” Nothing can be farther from this truth.
The ADC and other political groups should focus on their partisan activities and allow the Commission to carry out her mandate. Nothing will make an innocent person answer any charge from the EFCC. The “opposition figures” the ADC is trying unsuccessfully to white-wash know in their hearts that they have issues that necessitated their invitations by the Commission. The immunity against any investigation by the EFCC is accountability and probity. Fraud is fraud. Corruption is corruption. There is no sacred cow, protected interest or partisan consideration in the investigation and prosecution of corruption.
The EFCC will continue to do its job and all well-meaning Nigerians are enjoined to ignore political statements meant to heat up the polity and divert attention from the pillage of the national treasury.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
August 12, 2025
What you should know
The EFCC, led by Ola Olukoyede, insists its corruption investigations target individuals across all political affiliations.
The commission says it will not yield to political pressure or public attacks aimed at shielding suspects from accountability.
