The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission “risks becoming a tool for political witch-hunts” in Nigeria rather than a neutral, evidence-driven anti-graft body in the fight against corruption.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, cautioned the EFCC in a statement on May 11, 2025, while condemning what it termed the latest allegations leveled against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
He described the petition as an alleged politically motivated campaign against him.
Multiple reports earlier stated that some protesters from the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance approached the agency’s headquarters in Abuja to submit their petition against Matawalle.
They questioned why the EFCC was allegedly foot-dragging in commencing a thorough probe into the allegation of financial corruption against the former governor of Zamfara State.
“Many petitions were submitted at the headquarters of the commission, notable ones submitted by the APC Akida Forum on May 3rd, 2024, and a follow-up petition on September 30th, 2024, urging the commission to proceed with its investigation of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
“We have witnessed the commission launch an investigation into the alleged corruption of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Last year, the commission arrested former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State over alleged corruption. If all these former governors and ministers were not above the law and the EFCC, who would shield the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, from investigation? He is not a governor now. Who is stopping EFCC from doing its work?” the leader of the protesters and convener of the group, Mohammed Ireji, stated.
HURIWA Reacts
- Reacting to the development, HURIWA expressed concern that the EFCC risks becoming a tool for political witch-hunts rather than a neutral, evidence-driven anti-graft body.
“We must caution the EFCC not to allow itself to be used to settle political scores or to undermine loyal public servants who are actively contributing to national stability.
“These petitions are not new; they have been regurgitated with fanfare to serve sinister objectives. We urge the Commission to act only within the limits of verifiable evidence and due process,” the statement partly reads.
- While Onwubiko acknowledged the need for accountability and transparency in governance, he emphasized that such principles must not be manipulated to serve parochial or ethnic interests.
- He urged the EFCC to independently and professionally scrutinize any petition before initiating an investigation.
- HURIWA insisted that the commission must act on facts, not public sentiment or pressure from politically compromised interest groups.
“We strongly oppose selective justice and trial by media. Nigeria’s democracy must be anchored on the rule of law and due process, not on orchestrated mob actions disguised as civil protests,” Onwubiko concluded.
- HURIWA warned that the trend of weaponizing institutions like the EFCC for internal vendettas sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy and economic prosperity.
What to Know
The EFCC is one of Nigeria’s frontline anti-graft agencies.
In October 2024, the Commission disclosed that it had recovered N248 billion, $105.4 million, and other foreign currencies between October 18, 2023, and October 18, 2024, from suspects in the private and public sectors.
- In March 2025, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, called for greater commitment to integrity within the agency, with the aim of surpassing the Commission’s N365.4 billion monetary recoveries in 2024.
- The EFCC relies largely on petitions, intelligence, and investigation before commencing the prosecution of a financial crime suspect.
- Meanwhile, in 2023, the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, had restrained the EFCC from further inviting, arresting or detaining present or past officials of the Zamfara State government, including the outgone governor Bello Matawalle with respect to how funds meant for security votes, estacodes, traveling allowances or any similar facts were expended by the administration.