The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concerns over what it described as an orchestrated smear campaign by politicians and interest groups aiming to obstruct its investigations and prosecutions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 7, the Commission alleged that individuals with ties to suspects currently under investigation or prosecution were funding coordinated media attacks targeting the EFCC and its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
According to the agency, a group consisting of politicians, academics, self-proclaimed civil activists, and fugitives abroad had been mobilised to launch these attacks in an attempt to discredit its work.
The Commission claimed the goal of the accusations was to create the false impression of political bias through fabricated narratives.
“These disgruntled elements have recruited paid jobbers to orchestrate campaigns of calumny through sponsored media attacks targeting the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, and the institution itself,” the EFCC stated.
The anti-graft agency noted that the ultimate objective was to pressure the EFCC into abandoning sensitive investigations, especially those involving opposition figures.
According to the statement, the strategy was designed to “confuse the operations of the Commission and, through fear-mongering, weaken its resolve to investigate opposition politicians for fear of being branded partisan.”
Gossip News Now reports that the EFCC warned the situation could escalate as the political environment becomes more charged ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The agency emphasized that it was closely monitoring those involved and would not allow any group or individual to derail its mission.
“The Commission will not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria,” it reiterated.
While stressing its neutrality, the EFCC stated that its actions remained guided by its Establishment Act and the Constitution, insisting that political affiliation had never shielded anyone from scrutiny.
“Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar of the Commission,” it said.
The agency added that several high-profile figures from both sides of the political divide were currently under investigation or standing trial.
EFCC Reaffirms Neutrality, Says It Has No Ties to Any Political Party
The Commission further dismissed claims of aligning with any political party, insisting it maintained no form of partnership with any political organisation.
It explained that public clarification regarding the presumption of innocence for accused persons was strictly constitutional and should not be misinterpreted as support for any group or individual.
The EFCC also stressed that it would not succumb to pressure to reveal details of ongoing investigations involving politically exposed persons.
“The EFCC will not be pressured or blackmailed into making public disclosures of politically exposed persons being investigated for one alleged corruption case or the other,” it emphasized.
The agency concluded by affirming its dedication to justice and vowed to continue carrying out its duties impartially, regardless of political intimidation or media manipulation.
