The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a strong warning against calls to dismantle the anti-corruption agency, following a legal challenge by 16 governors who question the agency’s legality. EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren addressed the issue, emphasizing that eliminating the EFCC would leave Nigeria vulnerable to widespread corruption.
Uwujaren spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, expressing concern over the attempts to undermine the EFCC. “Nigerians should see through this shenanigan and oppose it,” he said. “I don’t see how this country can survive without the EFCC with the kind of corruption problem that we have. Nigeria cannot do without the EFCC.”
He argued that those challenging the agency’s existence are uncomfortable with the EFCC’s work, as it holds them accountable. “What you see playing out is simply people who are feeling the heat of the work of the EFCC and they want to derail what is going on within the EFCC,” Uwujaren added. He suggested that these individuals do not see the EFCC as a problem for their citizens but rather as a personal threat to their activities.
The spokesperson emphasized that the EFCC’s establishment is grounded in Nigerian law, and efforts to challenge its legality are attempts to derail its mission. “People who are concerned about transparency and accountability will wish the EFCC to be killed because that is the agenda,” he stated, arguing that such moves are aimed at weakening the fight against corruption and avoiding accountability in governance.
