Weaponizing the EFCC: Presidency and Opposition Trade Heavy Blows

Prominent opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and senior PDP figure Bode George, have accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately weakening opposition parties ahead of future elections.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday and endorsed by ADC National Chairman David Mark, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and Lawal Batagawara, the opposition demanded an independent audit of federal, state, and local government finances covering the period from 2015 to 2025. They alleged that state institutions are being deployed against political rivals instead of being used to tackle genuine economic crimes.

Their statement followed a surge in defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress, involving governors, federal lawmakers, and other influential political figures. Among the most notable was the recent defection of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the PDP, which opposition leaders described as part of a broader and troubling pattern.

The opposition accused key national institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, of acting as tools of political pressure. They claimed these agencies now apply the law selectively, targeting opposition figures while offering protection to members of the ruling party.

According to the statement, state power is increasingly being used to harass perceived political opponents rather than to uphold justice, with the ultimate aim of silencing dissent and eroding Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. The leaders warned that the growing trend of defections has reinforced public suspicion that intimidation, not political conviction, is driving realignments across the country.

They further alleged the existence of a quiet strategy to bring all state governments under APC control by pressuring opposition governors through anti-corruption investigations. If allowed to continue, they argued, this approach could destabilise Nigeria’s democratic system, particularly as the 2027 general election approaches.

The opposition also criticised what it described as selective prosecution by the EFCC, pointing to past remarks by former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole suggesting that joining the ruling party offers political protection. They said such comments reflect a perception that justice depends on political loyalty.

As part of their recommendations, the opposition proposed placing anti-corruption officers directly within government payment systems and establishing an independent review body with full access to public accounts. They argued that these measures would help expose selective enforcement and strengthen the credibility of anti-graft agencies.

At the state level, the ADC chapter in Kebbi criticised the EFCC over the detention of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), describing the action as unconstitutional and politically driven. Malami, through his spokesperson Mohammed Bello Doka, rejected allegations linking him to terrorism financing or the operation of dozens of bank accounts, calling the claims false, baseless, and part of a coordinated media attack.

The Presidency swiftly dismissed the opposition’s claims, rejecting suggestions that President Tinubu is weaponising the EFCC. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the accusations as scapegoating by politically weakened parties and unsuccessful aspirants seeking relevance.

Onanuga argued that politicians were joining the APC of their own free will and that the opposition’s narrative ignored constitutional guarantees of freedom of association. He said defections were driven by confidence in the administration’s reform agenda and the gains already recorded, not by coercion or intimidation.

Reaffirming the independence of the EFCC, Onanuga stressed that the commission operates within the law and investigates financial crimes without regard to political affiliation. He noted that courts, not the Presidency, determine guilt or innocence.

“The EFCC is an independent institution empowered to carry out its statutory responsibilities without interference or favour,” he said, adding that anyone facing allegations should defend themselves through due process. “No one is above the law, and everyone must be accountable for their actions, whether in or out of office.”

The Presidency also noted that some of the critics had been investigated or prosecuted long before Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while others had faced money-laundering probes abroad. Onanuga suggested that the growing criticism reflected rising pressure on those now being held to account.

Urging political actors to avoid undermining national institutions, the Presidency warned against using politics as a shield against accountability, insisting that the fight against corruption must remain a national priority. The disagreement highlights deepening tensions between the government and the opposition over the role of anti-corruption agencies and what both sides describe as a defining issue for Nigeria’s democratic future. At the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to issue an official response to the allegations.