Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Impunity and favoritism have been blamed for the increasing rot in the Nigerian society. The government, over the years has been accused of lacking the political will to prosecute and punish wrong doers.

Observers have voiced their concerns about the action of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) against opposition politicians in Nigeria, sparking fears about political intimidation ahead of the 2027 general election.

Analysts argue that while the EFCC is constitutionally empowered to investigate financial crimes, its recent clampdown on high-profile figures outside the ruling party appears selective.

They say the agency seemingly target of opposition leaders, either putting them up for trial or investigation, raising questions about whether the anti-graft agency is being used as a political tool.

For many, it is concerning and raise a moral burden for the EFCC, that it often turns a blind eye and drop corruption cases against politicians once they join the ruling party despite public outcries.

Last week, Aminu Tambuwal, former Sokoto State governor, was questioned by the EFCC over alleged cash withdrawals totaling ₦189 billion, which investigators claim violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Tambuwal was subsequently released the next day by the EFCC, while his international passport was sized.

Tambuwal, a leading opposition figure, is part of the coalition which recently fused into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), seeking to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in the 2027 general election.

A few other opposition leaders have also been targeted by the EFCC, including a former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha.

Tambuwal's arrest has continued to generate ripples across the country, especially among politicians and stakeholders in Northern Nigeria, who say that the region is being targeted, while the anti-graft fight is selective.

"It is a pattern in Nigeria that before every general election circle, this sort of thing would happen. Tambuwal's arrest is a plot to intimidate the opposition politicians or why are they not doing same to those politicians in the APC? It is a setback for our democracy, we are all watching," Uwam Luke, public affairs commentator, told BusinessDay.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been at the forefront of these allegations, claiming the EFCC is targeting its leaders in a bid to weaken the opposition.

In recent days, many influential Nigerians, politicians and Civil society groups have also warned that the EFCC action against Tambuwal and opposition politicians, if left unchecked, could erode public confidence in Nigeria's democratic institutions.

"This practice makes a mockery of the fight against corruption and confirms the fears of many Nigerians that the so-called anti-corruption campaign is nothing more than a political weapon, applied selectively to punish opponents and shield allies," Hameed Muritala, public affairs analyst, told BusinessDay.

Observers have noted that similar patterns emerged in the lead-up to past elections, with corruption charges surfacing against opponents, only to fade once those politicians defected to the ruling party. This trend, they caution, undermines both accountability and the fight against corruption.

Many Nigerians want the EFCC to act independently and transparently, they said targeting opposition figures, while overlooking corruption allegations against ruling party members creates an impression of bias.

Some Nigerians have also argued that the EFCC was constitutionally backed to arrest and prosecute individuals found to be breaking the anti-graft law no matter how highly placed and that Tambuwal cannot be an exception.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has denial that the agency was targeting opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general election

Amid the criticism the EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissed claims of bias, stating that the commission's mandate is to fight financial crime, not to protect or attack any political party.

Opposition politicians walk freely

When Adams Oshiomhole was the national of chairman of the ruling APC, he announced that any opposition party's governor or former governor who joined the APC would have his sins forgiven.

Perhaps, that has been the pattern in recent years, with many politicians who had cases in court instituted by anti-graft agency discontinued and buried once they join the ruling party.

Such individuals today exercise enormous political power and wielding influence that perhaps, the EFCC cannot go near them except they fall out with the presidency.

A careful look would show that since 2015, a number of politicians who had cases to answer with the EFCC are today walking freely because they chose to join or remain in the APC.

Some months ago, a former South-South governor, who was arrested nd charged for allegedly diverting and mis-using 13 percent derivation revenue in his state while in office among other allegations dumped his party and joined the ruling party.

Since then, nothing has been heard of his case; there are reports that he was told to defect to the ruling party as a condition for the discontinuing of his case.

Speaking further, Muritala (earlier quoted), said the way the anti-graft agency was working clearly shows bias, noting that the targeting of opposition politicians while ignoring those in the ruling party would continue to put the integrity of the commission to question.

According to him, "Some governors who recently defected to the APC have seen their cases dropped, what about the recent defection of a former governor in the South-South region, he was being investigated over alleged diversion of the sum of N1.3 trillion from the 13 percent derivation fund belonging to the state.

"However, since he joined the ruling APC, we no longer hear about the case. He may have been secretly left off the hook. Examples of this abound.

"It shows we are not serious as a country with our anti-corruption fight. True anti-corruption efforts must be impartial, transparent, and consistent. Anything less is a ruse."

Recently, a detailed investigative work released by a media outfit in Nigeria revealed that several former state governors in Nigeria previously facing serious allegations of corruption saw their Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cases effectively dropped or left to fade after they defected to the ruling party.

Many serving public office holders, governors, federal and state lawmakers in the ruling party have had their cases dropped in recent years,

For instance, there is case of a former governor in one of the South East states, despite EFCC invitations in 2018 over alleged mismanagement of ₦27 billion, no charges have been filed; he continues to serve as senator.

There is another senator from the ruling party from the same state, whose case has been allegedly swept under the carpet by the EFCC.

There is senator from the Northern Nigeria, who was initially arraigned for alleged misappropriation of over ₦5 billion. In May 2019, after being encouraged by APC leadership to step down from a Senate president race, the case was handed over to then Attorney-General's office and subsequently dropped.

Critics argue that this selective prosecution not only undermines Nigeria's anti-corruption fight but also deepens public mistrust in democratic institutions.

A human rights lawyer, who did not want his name in print, said that the situation creates two classes of citizens, one that is above the law because of political protection, and another that faces the full weight of prosecution because they are in opposition or lack influence.

Meanwhile, some of the politicians whose cases were dropped continue to wield influence at both federal and state levels, further entrenching the perception that political loyalty offers immunity from justice.

Observers warn that unless the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies are insulated from political interference, Nigeria's fight against corruption will remain compromised.

APC chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, warned President Tinubu that using the EFCC to target opposition politicians won't save the party in the 2027 elections.

He cited the appointment of Nentawe Yilwatda as APC national chairman as evidence of the party's plan to manipulate the electoral process in 2027.

In a statement Eze stated unequivocally that none of what he described as the devious plots being adopted by the Tinubu administration to retain power will come to fruition.

"I wish to state that none of these acts, both unleashing the EFCC on opposition politicians and appointment of Nentawe Yilwatda as the national chairman of APC, so that he can manipulate INEC, will save Tinubu from relocating back to Lagos come 2027," Eze said.

"The truth is that 2027 general elections are neither between APC and ADC nor any other political party, but emphatically between APC and Nigerians.

"With the level of hydra-headed socio-economic and political calamities that have befallen this country due to Tinubu's inhumane, clueless and anti-people policies, I know Nigerians will do everything humanly possible to free themselves from the circle of deaths occasioned by maladministration."

According to Eze, plans by the Tinubu government to intimidate the immediate Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), out of the coalition movement is an exercise in futility.

For Tinubu to go after Malami, one of late President Muhammadu Buhari's trusted ministers, a few weeks after the burial of the former president, according to Eze, is a sign of ingratitude and obsession to hold on to power by all means without minding whose ox is gored.

Opposition kicks

The opposition, meanwhile, has accused the government of weaponizing anti-corruption agencies to weaken its rivals before the polls. Some lawmakers have even called for parliamentary oversight to ensure that investigations are not skewed to serve political interests.

The party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the EFCC's actions as a deliberate attempt to intimidate our members and weaken our resolve. He added that the EFCC is acting like a department of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar alleged that the arrest of Tambuwal, by the EFCC, is politically motivated.

He claimed the arrest was part of a strategy by the Tinubu-led administration to harass and weaken the opposition.

He accused Tinubu's government of using the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to Atiku, "It is as though anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations, and as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Bola Tinubu, their 'sins' are forgiven.

"That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive," Atiku said.

Atiku further said he was instrumental in the creation of the EFCC during his tenure, condemning what he described as the agency's use for partisan purposes.

EFCC targeting corruption, not opposition - Fusika

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika has said the EFCC was not being used by the APC-led Federal Government to witch-hunt opposition politicians.

Olumide-Fusika made the defence in an interview with newsmen, insisting that the agency's focus is on fighting corruption irrespective of political affiliation.

According to him, the target is corruption, stressing that it doesn't matter who the person is, whether in the ADC or in the APC or whatever.

According to him, "In Nigeria, there has been a lot of clamour for the EFCC to pursue what are called real financial crimes instead of focusing on love scams perpetrated by the infamous 'Yahoo boys.'

"For the institution to go after the likes of Waziri Tambuwal, they must have something. I don't see this as targeting the ADC; the EFCC has also prosecuted members of the ruling party.

"After all, we are used to our powerful people telling us, 'go to court.' If you are picked up, you will take your day in court. If you are being witch-hunted, the evidence will show in court that you really didn't commit this offence. The judges are not targeting you."

Anti-graft war: When opposition members sin (in govt's eye) they rot in jail - Businessday NG