Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a “terrorist organization,” accusing the agency of misusing its powers to instill fear in the Nigerian populace.
During an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, Agbakoba raised concerns about the EFCC’s actions and its overlapping functions with other law enforcement agencies. He called for a reevaluation of the EFCC’s mandate, highlighting the confusion between it and other bodies like the Special Fraud Unit and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
“Why do we have the EFCC, Special Fraud Unit, and ICPC all performing similar tasks yet failing to apprehend anyone?” he questioned.
While recognizing some of the EFCC’s successes, Agbakoba criticized its handling of high-profile cases, particularly the treatment of former police officials. “Even Tarfa, as problematic as he was, being dragged – was that appropriate?” he remarked, indicating that their methods demonstrate poor judgment. “In a rational society, would you drag a former Inspector General of Police? That’s unacceptable.”
Agbakoba strongly condemned the EFCC’s tactics, stating, “These individuals are terrorists. In my perspective, they terrorize us. They wield their power, clad in their red coats, to instill fear, so that the mere mention of EFCC makes you anxious. This is not the conduct of a law enforcement agency.”
He urged the National Assembly to clarify the EFCC’s responsibilities and called for reforms to ensure the agency operates effectively.
