The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has dismissed allegations that the agency is engaging in a political “witch-hunt” against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, insisting that the EFCC’s investigation is professional, impartial and rooted in law enforcement, not politics.
Olukoyede spoke in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on January 11, 2026, amid public debate over the high-profile case.
Olukoyede said claims that the EFCC’s actions are politically motivated are unfounded and stressed that Malami’s case was opened well before he assumed office as chairman. “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, and that’s what I want Nigerians to understand and to agree with us,” he said, emphasising the agency’s commitment to non-partisan enforcement.
The EFCC boss explained that Malami has been under investigation for nearly two and a half years, noting that the file predated his tenure and that he only inherited it, overseeing further professional evaluation before proceeding with prosecution.
“He has been under investigation for almost two and a half years… so there’s nothing personal about it. I don’t understand the issue of persecution and all of that,” Olukoyede said.
The commission recently arraigned Malami, his wife and son on a 16-count alleged money-laundering charge, with Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granting the defendants bail set at ₦500 million with two sureties, each required to own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa, and directed to deposit travel documents with the court.
Critics, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State, have criticised the EFCC’s actions, alleging bias and selective enforcement, claiming the agency’s focus on Malami undermines public confidence in anti-graft efforts.
The ADC has described the prosecution as politically motivated and uses the term “witch-hunt”, asserting that such cases erode trust in law enforcement processes.
Olukoyede defended the anti-graft agency’s mandate to enforce the law impartially and stressed that citizens should perceive EFCC actions as fair and consistent with legal obligations. He reiterated that investigations are based on evidence and legal standards rather than political affiliation or pressure.
Political commentators note that high-profile investigations such as this have intensified public discourse on the integrity and objectivity of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions, with some opposition voices asserting that the EFCC’s actions align too closely with political interests, while EFCC leadership maintains that all investigations are carried out within statutory frameworks.
As the matter progresses through the legal system, observers say that maintaining transparent processes and public clarity on procedural fairness will be critical to sustaining confidence in anti-corruption enforcement.
