The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering.
Established in 2003 by ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, the agency has addressed various financial corruption cases by prosecuting and convicting a number of high-profile corrupt individuals, ranging from Nigeria’s top politicians to several bank chief executives.
However, all its heads since inception usually get sacked as a result of their involvement in alleged fraud they claim to be fighting.
Nuhu Ribadu
Ribadu was the pioneer executive chairman of EFCC in 2003 and reappointed him in 2007, as well as promoting him to the position of Assistant Inspector General of Police.
He was accused of double standard and insincerity in his war against corruption as he allegedly went after perceived enemies of his boss, Obasanjo, while shielding the friends of the former president. One of those who criticised him for this is Festus Keyamo.
In December 2007, Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro ordered that Ribadu be temporarily removed from the position of EFCC chairman and ordered him to attend the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
The decision was criticised by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and House of Representatives members as politically motivated and/or likely to set back the fight against corruption.
Ribadu was removed from office by Umaru Yar’Adua on charges of bribery, double standards, insincerity, failure to disclose assets, and witch-hunting alleged rivals of his principal.
Farida Waziri
Confirmed as EFCC executive chairperson by Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, Waziri led EFCC arrested former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP Bode George in Lagos and arraigned him and four others on a 163 count-charge of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, abuse of office and alleged illegal award of contracts worth N84 billion while he was chairman of the NPA.
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In June 2009, speaking at a press conference to mark her first year in office, She spoke on efforts to prosecute former governors including Dr. Peter Odili, Bola Tinubu, Ayo Fayose Joshua Dariye, Jolly Nyame among others. Other high-level suspects being pursued included Senator Nicholas Ugbane and Nasir El-Rufai.
But President Goodluck Jonathan fired Farida Waziri on November 23, 2011 due to allegations of selective investigation, a disagreement with Micheal Aondokaa, Minister for Justice, regarding the prosecution of cases, and corruption via a potential compromise in the investigation of financial misappropriation against Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State.
Ibrahim Lamorde
Former EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde served as a police officer in Nigeria for three years. He took over as acting Chairman in January 2008, holding this position until Farida Waziri was eventually sacked.
But President Buhari sacked him in 2015 after the Nigerian Senate alleged that $5bn (£3.2bn) had gone missing at the EFCC among other allegations of corruption.
A Senate committee led by Senator Peter Nwaboshi at the time alleged Lamorde diverted assets and cash recovered by EFCC
Ibrahim Magu
Appointed as the interim Chairman, Magu presided over the EFCC in an interim capacity from Nov. 2015 to July 2020.
He participated in the investigation committee set up by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, at President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to look into the purchase of weapons by the Armed Forces between 2007 and 2020.
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Though not confirmed by the Senate as the substantive Chairman of the anti-graft agency until President Buhari removed him from office, the EFCC announced that for the first time in Nigeria’s history, judges and military officials were prosecuted under Magu.
On July 6, 2020, Magu was detained on suspicion of corruption in connection with money he is said to have embezzled to pay for his opulent lifestyle and travel expenditures, among other things. Following the accusations, he was suspended on July 7, 2020.
Abdulrasheed Bawa
Abdulrasheed Bawa is a Nigerian detective and now-suspended EFCC.
Bawa was accused of stealing, selling, and auctioning off dozens of petrol-bearing vehicles seized from suspected thieves to his proxies at exorbitant prices.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Bawa and has directed a thorough investigation into serious accusations of abuse of power, corruption, and the diversion of confiscated property, among other things.
