Since its establishment 22 years ago, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has remained at the forefront of Nigeria?s anti-corruption fight. It has secured hundreds of convictions in court, recovered properties worth humongous amounts, and trillions in proceeds of corruption.

The 2002 Establishment Act, amended in 2004, empowers the EFCC to combat economic and financial crimes, enabling it to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalise crime. This legal backing has made the EFCC one of Nigeria?s most powerful and influential anti-corruption tools, feared by many politicians and government officials, civil servants and politically exposed persons.

Under its pioneer chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who now serves as the National Security Adviser, the EFCC was a bulldog that earned a reputation as an effective and near-incorruptible institution. However, in the years that followed, the commission?s credibility has eroded and public confidence in its operatives has weakened due to allegations of corruption and misconduct.

Disturbing allegations of corruption among some EFCC operatives are not new. There are allegations of some operatives owning mansions in highbrow areas of major cities, far beyond what their legitimate earnings can justify. Even more disturbing are claims that some operatives have normalised sharp practices, such as declaring only a fraction of recovered assets while pocketing the rest, soliciting bribes, or cutting deals with suspects to obstruct justice. It got so bad that the current EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in January 2024, said the quest for bribes by some of the commission?s investigators has become embarrassing.

This attitude among some bad eggs within the EFCC has smeared the integrity of the entire anti-graft agency and fuelled suspicions that the EFCC is more interested in stage-managing corruption cases rather than genuinely fighting financial crimes. No doubt, the fight against corruption anywhere in the world requires institutions with unquestionable integrity that employ operatives of high moral standards and discipline. Unfortunately, the public perception of the EFCC has suffered, as many Nigerians now view its operatives as compromised.

Like many government institutions in Nigeria, the commission?s credibility largely hinges on the character, commitment and leadership of its chairman. The body language of the commission?s leadership dictates whether operatives will uphold the rule of law or succumb to corrupt influences.

It is in this context that we at Daily Trust welcome the actions taken by the current EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in conducting an internal purge. The dismissal of 27 operatives and the detention of 10 others in January over allegations of corruption and professional misconduct is no doubt a step in the right direction.

The officers, according to the EFCC were dismissed for various offences bordering on fraudulent activities and misconduct following the recommendation of the Staff Disciplinary Committee, as ratified by the Executive Chairman. It said that by dismissing the 27 officials from its workforce, the EFCC aimed to ensure integrity and to rid the commission of fraudulent elements.

We are happy to see that the EFCC chairman?s barrage of warnings to bad eggs within the commission are being backed by action. While it is unclear how many officers have faced disciplinary action or have been sacked since the establishment of the commission, this latest crackdown sends a strong message that corruption within the commission will not be tolerated.

However, if the EFCC intends to show that it is committed to transparency and accountability, it must go beyond announcements of dismissal of its operatives. Nigerians deserve to know the identities of the dismissed operatives and the specific offences that led to their removal. In a country where corruption remains a deep-rooted problem, naming and prosecuting corrupt EFCC officials, as the commission has done with other public office holders, is necessary to deter others from engaging in similar misconduct. This is also to prove to Nigerians that these persons are not just numbers but real people who will face prosecution.

Beyond purging bad eggs, the EFCC must strengthen its recruitment process to ensure that only individuals with unquestionable integrity are employed. A thorough background check should be a prerequisite for joining the commission, given that its officers hold significant powers that can be easily abused.

While we commend Olukoyede?s decisive action, we emphasise that this internal cleansing must continue. The EFCC cannot afford to shield corrupt operatives from public scrutiny. Their names must be disclosed, and they must be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. Anything short of this will be seen as a mere public relations stunt rather than a genuine commitment to reform. If the EFCC is to regain public trust, it must ensure that its operatives embody the principles of transparency, accountability and justice. (Daily Trust Editorial)

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