The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has vehemently denied claims that the commission is being deployed by President Bola Tinubu to persecute members of opposition parties, especially following recent high-profile defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Appearing on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Wednesday, Olukoyede asserted that EFCC operates without political influence and dispelled the notion of partisan agenda. He further stated that a close examination of the Commission’s ongoing cases would reveal that more individuals from the ruling APC are being prosecuted than opposition parties.
Olukoyede dismissed the allegations as a plot to distract President Tinubu from his “good work.” His statement comes after the highly publicized switching of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Delta State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, and other elected officials to the APC on April 23rd.
These defections elicited mixed reactions, with some opposition leaders arguing the move was a result of pressure mounted by the EFCC and other state instruments.
As a retort to these arguments, Olukoyede emphasized the EFCC’s commitment to impartiality and brought to memory the Commission’s past record in successfully prosecuting high-profile corruption cases.
“If you consider the figures of our cases, the scope of investigation, prosecution, particularly high-profile ones, you might possibly have more members of the ruling party in some of the cases we’ve handled. So, we must be reasonably judged,” Olukoyede added.
The statement by the EFCC boss is intended to erase the perception that the anti-corruption body is being politicized and to reassure the public of its independence in the fight against economic and financial vices, irrespective of political leanings.
