EDITORIAL: EFCC: Physician, engage in self healing first

EFCC’s Internal Corruption Crisis: A Call for Accountability and Reform

In a striking adherence to the biblical edict, “Physician, heal thyself,” Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dismissed 27 operatives in 2024 for involvement in fraudulent activities.

While embarrassing, this purge was a necessary step to excise rot within the agency tasked with upholding the nation’s moral integrity.

The EFCC’s ethical contradictions—akin to a logical paradox—have deepened public distrust. Since January 2024, multiple scandals have emerged:

– Lagos Zonal Command: Officers raided an exhibit room, stealing foreign currencies, jewelry, and gold bars. Ten operatives were detained.

– Kaduna Office: An official, Polycarp, fled after allegedly stealing $30,000 and critical evidence ahead of an audit.

These incidents underscore the Herculean task facing EFCC Chairman Olu Olukoyede: cleansing an institutional “cesspit.” To restore credibility, the agency must eradicate internal corruption as fiercely as it pursues external graft.

Leadership’s Mixed Progress
Upon assuming office in October 2023, Olukoyede demanded staff embody Caesar’s wife—“above reproach”—by declaring assets. Yet, Nigeria’s history shows asset declarations often fail to curb corruption, as elites adeptly hide illicit wealth.

While Olukoyede’s one-year scorecard boasts 3,455 convictions and recoveries of N248.7 billion, $105.4 million, and other currencies, these gains pale against the scale of looting. A viral January 2024 video implicating an EFCC official in a $400,000 bribe remains unresolved, highlighting the need for transparency.

Systemic Compromise and Recruitment Failures
Corrupt operatives often sabotage cases by tampering with evidence or colluding with suspects. This mirrors broader institutional decay:

– Former President Obasanjo (2004) and ex-Police Service Commission Chairman Musiliu Smith (2022) warned of criminals infiltrating law enforcement.

– EFCC’s recruitment lacks rigor, risking a fate akin to the Nigeria Police Force, where officers sometimes aid armed robbers.

Olukoyede must also navigate political landmines. Predecessors like Ibrahim Magu (2020) faced removal over abuse allegations, while opaque asset sales persist.

High-Profile Trials: A Litmus Test
The EFCC’s credibility hinges on prosecuting powerful figures:

– 13 ex-governors accused of looting .N772 billion.

– Ongoing cases against ex-governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

– Former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, linked to 753 Abuja duplexes—the EFCC’s largest asset recovery.

Convictions remain elusive. Only two ex-governors— Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame—were convicted, only to be controversially pardoned by ex-President Buharii

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Restoring Trust Demands Radical Transparency

Olukoyede’s vow to resign if failing to prosecute a high-profile ex-governor signals resolve. Yet, promises must translate to action:

1. Publicly trial corrupt operatives to deter misconduct.

2. Overhaul recruitment to block “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

3. Audit and reform asset management processes.

As watchdog scrutiny intensifies, Olukoyede’s legacy will hinge on uprooting internal rot while securing landmark convictions. The EFCC cannot heal Nigeria’s corruption epidemic unless it first heals itself.

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