The Human Rights Writers Affiliation of Nigeria (HURIWA) has alleged that the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee “dangers turning into a instrument for political witch-hunts” in Nigeria fairly than a impartial, evidence-driven anti-graft physique within the struggle in opposition to corruption.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, Nationwide Coordinator of HURIWA, cautioned the EFCC in an announcement on Might 11, 2025, whereas condemning what it termed the most recent allegations leveled in opposition to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
He described the petition as an alleged politically motivated marketing campaign in opposition to him.
A number of reviews earlier acknowledged that some protesters from the All Progressives Congress Younger Leaders Alliance approached the company’s headquarters in Abuja to submit their petition in opposition to Matawalle.
They questioned why the EFCC was allegedly foot-dragging in commencing a radical probe into the allegation of monetary corruption in opposition to the previous governor of Zamfara State.
“Many petitions have been submitted on the headquarters of the fee, notable ones submitted by the APC Akida Discussion board on Might third, 2024, and a follow-up petition on September thirtieth, 2024, urging the fee to proceed with its investigation of the previous Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
“We now have witnessed the fee launch an investigation into the alleged corruption of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Final 12 months, the fee arrested former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State over alleged corruption. If all these former governors and ministers weren’t above the legislation and the EFCC, who would defend the previous governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, from investigation? He’s not a governor now. Who’s stopping EFCC from doing its work?” the chief of the protesters and convener of the group, Mohammed Ireji, acknowledged.
“We should warning the EFCC to not enable itself for use to settle political scores or to undermine loyal public servants who’re actively contributing to nationwide stability.
“These petitions will not be new; they’ve been regurgitated with fanfare to serve sinister aims. We urge the Fee to behave solely inside the limits of verifiable proof and due course of,” the assertion partly reads.
“We strongly oppose selective justice and trial by media. Nigeria’s democracy have to be anchored on the rule of legislation and due course of, not on orchestrated mob actions disguised as civil protests,” Onwubiko concluded.
The EFCC is certainly one of Nigeria’s frontline anti-graft businesses.
In October 2024, the Fee disclosed that it had recovered N248 billion, $105.4 million, and different foreign currency echange between October 18, 2023, and October 18, 2024, from suspects within the personal and public sectors.
