One Year In: EFCC’s Fight Against Corruption Intensifies Under Olukoyede Amid Legal, Political Challenges
Since assuming office nearly a year ago, Olanipekun Olukoyede, Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has led a reinvigorated and uncompromising campaign against corruption, financial crimes, and cybercrime—drawing widespread attention from both supporters and critics.
Olukoyede, a pastor with a strong moral compass, openly committed from the outset to combating corruption as a pathway to Nigeria’s economic renewal. Drawing inspiration from the biblical promise in Joel 2:25, he set out to restore integrity to governance and accountability to public finance.
Despite his extensive credentials—including past roles as Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman and Secretary to the Commission—Olukoyede’s appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 12, 2023, and subsequent Senate confirmation, was met with skepticism. Critics questioned his eligibility, even though they had raised no objections during his previous appointments.
Undeterred, Olukoyede has stayed focused on his mission. Over the past year, the EFCC under his leadership has recorded 3,455 convictions and recovered assets worth ₦248.75 billion, $105.42 million, and £53,133.64, not including other foreign currencies.
High-profile corruption trials have been revived or initiated, including cases involving former governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Darius Ishaku (Taraba), as well as ex-ministers Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye—figures once seen as politically untouchable.
This intensified anti-graft drive has triggered backlash. The EFCC has been targeted by orchestrated smear campaigns, protests by sponsored NGOs, hostile media coverage, and a series of litigations aimed at undermining its credibility.
One of the most prominent challenges came from the Kogi State government, which filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court questioning the legality and constitutionality of the EFCC. The suit, joined by several other states, argued that the EFCC’s existence contradicts the principles of federalism.
However, this move sparked national debate and a wave of dissent. Several states—including Jigawa, Anambra, Adamawa, Ebonyi, and Benue—have since filed motions to withdraw from the lawsuit. In Benue, Governor Hyacinth Alia even suspended the Attorney-General for joining the case without authorization.
Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal publicly disassociated the state from the suit, as did Ogun State’s Attorney-General Oluwashina Ogungbade, who expressed surprise at continued media reports suggesting otherwise.
“The constitutionality of the EFCC and the ICPC has already been affirmed by the Supreme Court,” Ogungbade said. “There is no new development that warrants reopening the matter.”
The anti-corruption watchdog group Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR) praised states that withdrew from the lawsuit. In a statement, VCR's Head of Mission Onche Ugbabe commended the governors for “heeding the voice of reason” and reaffirming support for the fight against corruption.
Prominent legal minds have weighed in. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana rejected claims questioning the EFCC’s legitimacy, insisting the agency plays a vital role in fighting financial crimes and should remain independent from executive interference.
“The EFCC and ICPC, like the Code of Conduct Tribunal, are essential institutions in our democracy,” Falana argued. “We should focus on strengthening their autonomy, not abolishing them.”
Meanwhile, public policy advocate Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has raised constitutional questions, calling for a broader legal review of Nigeria’s anti-graft framework. In letters to the National Assembly, he argued that the EFCC may have been unconstitutionally established—an assertion that has drawn both criticism and support.
As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the case, more states are expected to reevaluate their positions. For now, the number of states distancing themselves from the lawsuit outpaces those still supporting it.
In the face of legal and political opposition, Olukoyede’s leadership has injected renewed urgency into Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts—transforming the EFCC into a more assertive and high-profile force in the fight for transparency and good governance.
Tunde Nasiru, Public Policy Advocate, reporting from Abuja
