The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has rejected claims that it is being used to target opposition politicians.
The anti-graft agency described the allegations as misleading and politically motivated.
According to EFCC, the narrative of politicisation is a deliberate attempt by some politicians to escape ongoing corruption investigations. It insisted that its operations are guided strictly by law and not by political interests.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, dismissed accusations that the agency has been “weaponised” or that its independence has been eroded.
He said such claims distort the EFCC’s statutory duties and distract from its core responsibility of fighting economic and financial crimes.
Oyewale explained that the Commission operates within the framework of its Establishment Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, the EFCC does not select suspects based on party affiliation, religion, ethnicity or social status.
He stressed that the agency’s mandate is clear and cannot be negotiated. The EFCC, he said, is empowered to investigate and prosecute financial crimes wherever they are found, except in cases where constitutional immunity applies to serving public office holders.
“The Commission’s weapon is its Establishment Act, which provides the ground norm of its activities,” the statement said.
The EFCC also countered claims that only opposition figures are being investigated. It stated that prominent members of the ruling party, including former governors and ministers, are equally facing probes and prosecution alongside opposition politicians and other suspects.
According to the Commission, ongoing investigations cut across party lines and involve individuals from different political backgrounds. It said attempts to frame lawful investigations as political persecution are aimed at undermining public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.
The EFCC urged Nigerians to ignore what it described as false narratives and remain supportive of the fight against corruption.
It added that accountability and transparency remain central to its mission.
