The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has firmly rejected allegations that the anti-graft agency pursues politically motivated prosecutions, maintaining that all investigations under his leadership are conducted without partisan considerations.
Olukoyede addressed the controversy in an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, where he specifically defended the commission’s handling of the case against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, whose prosecution has generated significant political debate across the country.
The EFCC chairman insisted that the investigation into Malami was neither personal nor influenced by political calculations, emphasising that the case file had been opened and actively worked on long before he assumed leadership of the commission.
“Let me tell you about that particular former attorney-general that you are talking about — there is nothing personal in this matter. If Nigeria is to move forward, all of us must agree that this fight must be fought without being partisan,” Olukoyede stated during the interview.
He disclosed that the investigation into the former justice minister predated his tenure as EFCC chairman, noting that he merely inherited the case file from his predecessor and ensured it was handled with professionalism and thoroughness.
“The investigation of this man predated me in office, and a lot of people don’t know that. Yes, I edited the investigation file. What I did was to ensure that the investigation was carried out in a very professional and thorough manner,” Olukoyede explained.
The EFCC boss further revealed that Malami had been under investigation for nearly two and a half years before charges were eventually filed, adding that the commission proceeded with deliberate caution to ensure the case was sufficiently solid before initiating court proceedings.
“He has been under investigation for almost two and a half years. The file was opened not even under me. I inherited it,” he said. “Not until I was convinced that we had a watertight case… so there’s nothing personal about it.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recently arraigned Malami alongside his wife and son before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering. The prosecution marks one of the most high-profile cases involving a former senior government official in recent years.
On 7 January 2026, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500 million each, with stringent conditions attached. The judge ordered that each defendant must produce two sureties who own landed property in upscale Abuja districts including Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa.
Justice Nwite also directed the defendants to deposit their international travel documents with the court registry pending the determination of the trial, a standard measure aimed at preventing flight risk in cases of this magnitude.
The prosecution of Malami, who served as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, has generated considerable political controversy, with critics alleging that the case represents selective justice and politically motivated persecution.
The African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State, Malami’s home state, has been particularly vocal in its criticism of the EFCC’s action. The party accused the commission of engaging in witch-hunt and political victimisation, arguing that selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws undermines public confidence in Nigeria’s fight against graft.
The ADC’s position reflects broader concerns among some political observers and civil society groups who have questioned whether anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria apply the law uniformly across political divides or whether prosecutions are influenced by the political alignment of suspects.
Responding to such allegations, Olukoyede emphasised that the EFCC’s constitutional mandate requires the commission not only to enforce the law but to be seen as doing so fairly and impartially. He dismissed claims of bias in the Malami case as unfounded and insisted that the agency operates strictly within the boundaries of its legal responsibilities.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was established in 2003 through an Act of the National Assembly to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. Over the years, the agency has become the primary institution responsible for combating corruption, money laundering, advance fee fraud, and other financial crimes in the country.
However, the commission’s work has frequently been clouded by accusations of selective prosecution, particularly when high-profile politicians are involved. Critics have often pointed to patterns suggesting that prosecutions intensify against opposition figures or former officials who have fallen out of favour with the government in power, while others with similar allegations face little or no scrutiny.
These perceptions have posed significant challenges to public trust in Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture, despite periodic efforts by successive EFCC leaderships to demonstrate independence and professionalism in their operations.
Olukoyede assumed office as EFCC chairman in October 2023, succeeding the suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa. His appointment came at a time when the commission was under intense scrutiny over allegations of abuse of power and deviation from its core mandate.
Since taking office, Olukoyede has repeatedly pledged to restore public confidence in the commission by ensuring that investigations and prosecutions are based strictly on evidence and legal merit rather than political considerations. He has also emphasised the importance of completing ongoing investigations and bringing cases to court only when sufficient evidence has been gathered.
The prosecution of Malami represents one of the most significant tests of this commitment, given the former minister’s political prominence and his role as the nation’s chief law officer during the previous administration. Malami was responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s justice system and providing legal advice to the federal government during a period that saw numerous high-profile corruption cases and controversies over the rule of law.
His tenure was marked by several contentious decisions, including the handling of cases involving politically exposed persons, management of recovered assets, and interpretation of constitutional provisions on various legal matters. These issues made him one of the most powerful and, at times, controversial figures in the Buhari administration.
The current case against him and members of his family involves allegations of money laundering, a charge that carries severe penalties under Nigerian law.
