When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission came on board in 2003 as an enforcement agency to investigate crimes such as Advance Fee Fraud (419) and money laundering, many Nigerians applauded the development. The reason for this was not far-fetched. Nigeria is a country where corruption has become a very big development challenge. Corruption has been a recurring menace and endemic in our society and has continued to under-develop our polity in its entire ramifications. The EFCC, as a creation of an Act of Parliament, was established and mandated to combat financial and economic crimes. The commission was empowered to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalise economic and financial crimes. With such enormous powers, the hope of Nigerians then was that all those who had a hand in the looting of the nations treasury, thus depriving ordinary Nigerians their share of the national cake, would be brought to book, irrespective of their social, economic or political standing.To justify the confidence people reposed in the commission, it began on a good note with the arrest and trial of prominent bankers, former as well as serving state governors, ministers, high-ranking public office holders and political party members, corrupt police officers, and advance fee fraud gang operators. The indictment and conviction of some notable personalities not only endeared the commission to the heart of Nigerians, but also received commendations from international bodies.The anti-corruption crusade began to suffer a set-back when the commission was accused of double standard and insincerity in its war against corruption. The belief was that the campaigns have become lopsided, vindictive, selective, and one-sided. Many observed that the commission went after the perceived enemies of the presidency. This, according to Jide Ayobolu, a public affair analyst, has made the commission efforts counterproductive. While buttressing this accusation, Ayobolu observed that when the President or those close commit an act of corruption, it is usually glossed over, but when it involves people that are opposed to the President politically then, it is corruption and they must be summarily dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others. To Nigerians, such a double standard and warped treatment are in themselves acts of corruption.Nigerians however believe that the double standard and insincerity of the EFCC is a creation of the Federal Government. This is premised on the fact that the body is not an independent agency of the government that could discharge its duties and responsibilities without fear or favour. Section 3 of the EFCC Act 2004 gives the power to the President to appoint as well as remove the chairman and any member of the commission. In particular reference to Section 3(2), the chairman of the House Committee on Drug/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jugagba, while speaking on the recent removal of Mrs. Farida Waziri, noted that the President had the power to hire and fire a head of the agency.Since the President has the power to hire and fire the top shot, the EFCC cannot but be loyal to him to remain in office. In a similar development, it is also the President that approves the funding for the agency, if it wants to be too assertive or discharge the functions independent of the President, the latter can cut it to size by starving it of funds, no wonder before the EFCC undertakes any task or commences any investigation, it must seek the approval and consent of the government. EFCC cannot do anything outside of what the President wants it to do. Increasingly in the eye of the public, the commission is no more than a pliable tool in the hands of powerful politicians.If government is truly determined about the fight against corruption, Nigerians want the EFCC to be fully independent. In a recent call by the Nigeria Labour Congress, it observed that whatever measures taken by the Federal Government would not make the agency operate better if executive interference is allowed to continue.- Najeem Adeoye, Mass Communication Department, University of Maiduguri.
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