The Performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Fight against Corruption in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal

This very article is essentially geared towards evaluating the performance of the EFCC as an anti-graft agency in Nigeria. The benchmark for this evaluation is a few selected functions of the agency as enumerated in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 (section 6). Based on the sensitivity of the topic, secondary analysis is strictly used. The data generated for the study are both quantitative and quantitative. The study revealed, with pictorial evidence as well as names of culprits and properties confiscated, that the EFCC is actually carrying out its functions as mandated by the parliamentary Act of its establishment. However contrariwise, the findings revealed that the commission is yet to be fully independent in the discharge of its assignment. It is also yet to effectively reduce crime rate in the country. The study recommended among other things that the independence of the Commission should not be compromised; that is, it should not be used by any government in power as a ridiculing, incapacitating machine against the opposition.