The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused 16 state governors of attempting to derail Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts through a legal challenge.
The governors, who filed a suit at the Supreme Court, are questioning the legitimacy of the EFCC.
“We are really shocked by what is happening,” said EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren in a recent appearance on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief.”
“Nigerians should see through this shenanigan and oppose it because I don’t see how this country can survive without the EFCC with the kind of corruption problem that we have. Nigeria cannot do without the EFCC,” he added.
Uwujaren expressed concern that those behind the challenge are “feeling the heat” of the commission’s work and are attempting to evade accountability. “I am worried that, with the kind of problem we have with corruption in this country, some people would go to court to challenge the legality of EFCC,” he said.
The EFCC spokesman emphasized that the agency’s establishment is supported by Nigerian law, and challenging its legality is merely an attempt to hinder the fight against corruption.
“So, people who are concerned about transparency and accountability will wish the EFCC to be killed. Let me use the word killed because that is the agenda. They simply want to derail the fight against corruption because they don’t want accountability in their domains.”
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana has criticized the governors’ move, suggesting that instead of scrapping the agency, measures should be implemented to ensure the commission’s autonomy from government control. “For me, the ICPC and the EFCC like the Code of Conduct Tribunal have come to stay. What we should be demanding are measures to make these institutions autonomous, not under the control of any government.”
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olisa Agbakoba has written to the National Assembly, arguing that the EFCC was “unconstitutionally established.”
Agbakoba expressed support for the governors’ legal challenge, saying, “I am very delighted to note that many states have finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC. This will put to rest the question relating to the validity of the EFCC.”
The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing for Wednesday, October 22nd.
“What you see playing out is simply people who are feeling the heat of the work of the EFCC and they want to derail what is going on within the EFCC. They see the EFCC as a threat and purely that is what is playing out,” Uwujaren emphasized.
