The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has emphatically declared that no thief will be spared regardless of their political affiliation, whether they belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, NNPP, or SDP. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Olukoyede stressed that the EFCC’s mandate is to pursue justice based on evidence and the rule of law, not political considerations.
Olukoyede responded to allegations that the EFCC disproportionately targets opposition politicians while shielding APC members by pointing out that statistics reveal more APC members have faced EFCC charges than members of other parties. He said, “If you check the statistics of our work in the area of investigation and prosecution, particularly high-profile cases, you will perhaps find more members of the ruling party... So, for us to close our eyes to people who perhaps are not members of the ruling political party will be unfair to us and will be an injustice to us”.
Addressing public concerns over the slow progress in investigating the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, accused of diverting ₦30 billion, Olukoyede explained that the investigation started in January 2024 and involves multiple complex angles. He assured that the EFCC is diligently uncovering all necessary facts before proceeding with further action.
This firm stance by Olukoyede reinforces the EFCC’s commitment to impartial anti-corruption enforcement, signaling that political party membership will not grant immunity from prosecution. His remarks come amid a politically charged environment where corruption allegations often intersect with party loyalties, underscoring the commission’s resolve to uphold accountability across Nigeria’s political spectrum.
