EFCC

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Kogi West senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Dino Melaye, has cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against inviting the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for questioning over alleged financial crimes.

Melaye issued the warning on Thursday at the ADC All Support Groups town hall meeting in Abuja, where he opposed renewed calls for investigations into allegations against the former vice-president.

The meeting, themed “Together we can Build the Nigeria We Desire”, focused on grassroots mobilisation, polling-unit coordination, vote protection and greater participation of youths, women and support groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Melaye argued that Atiku had undergone several investigations by government institutions over the years without any conviction.

“Atiku was part of the government that created the EFCC. You cannot use the EFCC to torment the creator of the EFCC,” he said.

His remarks followed a petition by former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who urged the EFCC to reopen investigations into allegations involving Atiku.

Agbonayinma, through his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo of Sagitarian Law Firm, reportedly gave the commission 14 days to act on the petition. The request referred to an EFCC investigation and report concerning Atiku from 2005 and 2006, when he served as vice-president.

The petition also cited a 2010 report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which allegedly contained claims of money laundering and other financial offences involving the former vice-president.

Melaye maintained that the allegations had already received extensive attention from the government during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I, as Dino Melaye, I am aware that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have been investigated by Olusegun Obasanjo and the federal government time and time and time and time again,” he said.

“In fact, federal government versus Atiku Abubakar, 13 cases. And Atiku Abubakar won all the 13 cases.”

‘Invite Atiku And See Trouble’

Melaye further warned that any attempt to invite or arrest Atiku over what he described as politically motivated petitions would face resistance from the ADC and its supporters.

“My note of warning is this. And this note of warning is straight to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That the day EFCC invites Atiku Abubakar before election, then Tinubu will know that government is not owned by those in government,” he said.

“Government is owned by the people. Any day, due to these frivolous petitions, you invite, arrest or interview Atiku Abubakar, and we are not saying it with fear or favour; we mean it. Invite Atiku and see trouble.”

Drawing from the 2011 uprising in Tunisia, Melaye said Nigerians could also challenge the government if they became convinced that state institutions were being deployed against opposition politicians.

“We will tell you that what happened in Tunisia can happen in Nigeria. We will prove to you that those in government are less than one percent of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

“We will prove to you that the people own government. Government is not owned by those in government.”

‘They Have Investigated Atiku Everywhere’

The former senator also dismissed the renewed allegations against Atiku, insisting that authorities had subjected him to investigations in several places.

“They have investigated Atiku everywhere. The only thing they are yet to find out about Atiku is where his placenta was buried. They have done everything,” he said.

The development comes shortly after Atiku rejected calls for the EFCC to reopen the allegations against him. He said the issues had previously been considered by the EFCC, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts.

Atiku also stated that no court had convicted him over the allegations and challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to submit it for legal examination.

The former vice-president accused supporters of the administration of President Bola Tinubu of reviving old allegations in an attempt to divert public attention from Nigeria’s economic and security problems.

The EFCC has not publicly disclosed whether it will act on Agbonayinma’s petition.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that public funds were allegedly transferred from a local government account to a private company before being moved into cryptocurrency wallets.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during an engagement with media executives and journalists.

He said the commission’s Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department detected the suspicious transactions and temporarily froze the account for 72 hours to determine the destination and purpose of the funds.

Olukoyede did not identify the local government, company or state involved in the transaction.

Defending the commission’s intervention, the EFCC chairman said suspicious movement of public funds should not be allowed to continue unchecked.

He said, “When we see money moving suspiciously, we move in and freeze it in the interim. I know some of you are calling for my head. The account was frozen for 72 hours. Okay, come and show where this money is going? Why are you moving money? We saw money being moved from the local government account to a company. Apart from that phase, we discovered that the money has gone into cryptocurrency wallets.

“Is that the road to build? Is that the power to generate cryptocurrency wallets for your people? Are you asking me to close my eyes and not do something like that? Then you don’t need me in this office.”

According to him, the development demonstrated the importance of preventing suspicious transactions before public funds are lost rather than waiting until after theft has occurred.

“Why must we be waiting for money to be stolen? Why can’t we change the narrative? And that’s the main thing we need to bring to the office,” he said.

The disclosure followed controversy earlier in August after the EFCC froze an account belonging to the Osun State Government shortly before the August 15 governorship election.

However, Olukoyede did not connect the transaction he disclosed with Osun State or any other state.

The EFCC chairman also warned that cybercrime in Nigeria had moved beyond the conventional “Yahoo Yahoo” narrative. He said some young Nigerians were allegedly being used by public officials to conceal and transfer funds through cryptocurrency wallets.

He said, “We have gotten to a stage in Nigeria now that public officials steal money and they put it in cryptocurrency wallets.

“Most of the directors we are investigating now, you can’t trace tangible assets to them. They steal this money, give it to students, give it to young people. They open cryptocurrency wallets all over the world. They plunder the money there within 24 hours.

“The money moves abroad. They buy a house anywhere in the world, buy luxury items. Those are the recent trends.”

Olukoyede said the commission had developed the ability to track cryptocurrency wallets, particularly those connected to virtual asset platforms registered in Nigeria.

He noted that regulatory measures had led to the licensing of about 40 virtual asset platforms in the country.

“Now we also have the capacity to trace cryptocurrency wallets now, at least with those that are registered in Nigeria, and we are doing that,” he said.

Speaking on the EFCC’s achievements over the past three years, Olukoyede disclosed that the commission had recovered virtual assets linked to the CBEX fraud.

He, however, identified the management of confiscated cryptocurrency as a challenge that had previously raised concerns about accountability.

“When you recover virtual assets, where do you put them? No accountability. That’s why we can’t continue like this,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government had approved a national confiscation wallet for virtual assets recovered by law enforcement agencies.

“Today, now we have a national confiscation wallet. So if I confiscate virtual assets now, it’s a national wallet that we put into those,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further called for greater technological capacity among financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to address the growing use of cryptocurrency in the movement of illicit funds.

He said, “When we are talking about cybercrime, please cooperate with us, understand the scope. Not just Yahoo. Some of the people you are calling Yahoo, see your young children; they are stealing on behalf of London, on behalf of public servants.”

Olukoyede also disclosed that the EFCC’s anti-corruption operations had contributed to revenue recovery, with federal and state tax recoveries reaching approximately N288.1bn during the period under review.

He said federal tax recoveries accounted for about N173.2bn, while N114.9bn was attributed to State Internal Revenue Services.

The EFCC chairman further revealed that more than 40 commission personnel had been dismissed over alleged corruption and financial misconduct within the past two and a half to three years.

He added that some of the dismissed officers were already facing prosecution, while case files involving others were being prepared for prosecution.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to appear before the agency for questioning over an alleged $14.86m fraud case.

The commission declared Sylva wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, made the call on Monday while responding to accusations by the former governor that the anti-graft agency had become more of a political arm of the All Progressives Congress than a state institution.

“He has been declared wanted; he should make himself available to the commission,” Oyewale said.

The development came on the same day Sylva announced his resignation from the APC after more than a decade as a member of the ruling party.

In his resignation letter, which was addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Sylva said he had also sent copies to the national chairman of the party, the EFCC chairman and the APC chairman in Bayelsa State.

Sylva said his decision followed consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and supporters.

He described the APC as a “floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities.”

The former governor also accused the party’s leadership of abandoning the principles that informed its creation.

In the letter dated August 31, 2026, Sylva wrote, “As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the Party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.

“Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a Party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.

“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration.”

Sylva further criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the Federal Government had failed to live up to the expectations of Nigerians.

“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” he stated.

He said he had decided to leave the party because he believed Nigerians would seek a political change at the next election.

“I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities. I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he said.

Sylva also explained why he copied the EFCC in his resignation letter, accusing the commission of acting in a manner that suggested political alignment with the APC.

He wrote, “I am deliberately putting the EFCC in copy of this letter because, of late, it has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of State.

“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take.”

The EFCC had declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 over the alleged $14.86m transaction.

The former governor has also been linked to an alleged plot against the Tinubu administration. He is listed as a defendant in a 13-count Federal High Court charge that includes allegations of treason, terrorism-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering.

He has denied involvement in the alleged plot.

Reports linked Sylva to an alleged financial contribution of about N785m to the purported operation through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based company. Investigators reportedly traced the money through the company and a bureau de change operator.

The wider investigation allegedly involved more than N5bn, which investigators said was pooled for the operation. Funds paid into Purple Waves were also reportedly linked to contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission and loans secured by the company.

The allegations remain before the courts, and Sylva has not been convicted of the offences.

In July 2026, the Department of State Services arraigned five associates of the former governor over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts after he was declared wanted in connection with the alleged plot. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

Earlier, in May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim forfeiture order over nine properties linked to Sylva following an application by the EFCC.

Sylva served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012, although his tenure was affected by court decisions. He later served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

By Anwar Usman

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, says more than 40 staff members have been sacked for corruption and financial related matters in the last three years.

The Chairman revealed this on Monday in Abuja at a media interactive session to mark his three-year stewardship at the commission’s headquarters.

Olukoyede also said that other five of the commission’s staff are currently being prosecuted for corrupt practices.

“In the past two and a half to three years of my service, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice. More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further revealed that, some of the affected staff members are already being prosecuted, while case files involving others are being prepared for prosecution.

“You can follow those cases in court; they are public knowledge.

“If that is what people do in other agencies and I arrest them, I investigate them, I prosecute them, why must I just dismiss you if you do it within our own system and I’m not prosecuting you?” he asked.

Olukoyede said the disciplinary measures were part of efforts to ensure EFCC personnel were held to the same standards of accountability the agency demanded from other Nigerians.

“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he said.

The EFCC chairman also announced the renaming of the commission’s former Internal Affairs Department to the Department of Ethics and Integrity as part of its drive for “internal cleansing.”

He said the commission had also introduced a gift policy to strengthen transparency and prevent conflicts of interest.

According to him, under the policy, staff will be required to declare gifts above a specified value, including those received from friends and relatives at home and abroad.

“The commission will also define the categories of gifts personnel can accept and require officers to account for their sources of income and standard of living,” he added.

NAN reports that, the commission called for stronger institutional reforms and policy changes to fight corruption, saying law enforcement alone could not win the war.

“The most effective system that fights financial crime is not law enforcement. It is the policy regime, institutional reforms that close leakages,” he said.

He urged the media and civil society to return to their watchdog roles.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have opened investigations into the management of a N12bn intervention fund released by the Federal Government to the Nigeria Football Federation.

The fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding wages, allowances and bonuses owed to members of Nigeria’s national teams.

A source familiar with the investigation told journalists on Thursday that some officials connected to the matter had been invited by the anti-corruption agencies and had made statements.

“They have been under our radar before now. We invited some officials over to our offices, and they gave their statements. Presently, they are on administrative bail. We have not ended our investigation,” the source said.

The development came to light through a response issued by the NFF to a request for access to financial records and utilisation documents linked to the fund.

The response was contained in a letter signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the NFF General Secretary. The letter was dated August 18, 2026, and addressed to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke.

The law firm had earlier written to the federation on August 7, 2026, with the correspondence received by the NFF on August 11.

The request, made under the Freedom of Information Act, sought financial records and other documents relating to the N12bn intervention fund reportedly released for the payment of players’ wages and bonuses.

The federation, however, declined to provide the documents, citing the ongoing investigations by the EFCC and ICPC.

“I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and your correspondence dated 7th August, 2026 but received on 11th August, 2026,” the letter stated.

“It is my instruction to inform you that the subject matter of the request under the Freedom of Information Act is subject of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

“Therefore, all documents relating to the request are before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.”

The Federal Government had announced the release of the N12bn in January 2024, shortly before the Super Eagles began their campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

A statement from President Tinubu’s Media Centre said the intervention covered outstanding salaries owed to coaches of the senior national team, as well as allowances and other payments due to several national teams.

“President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12bn outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others,” the statement read.

“The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coaches’ salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, women’s teams, and U-20 national team.”

Despite the intervention, complaints over unpaid allowances and bonuses have persisted within Nigerian football.

In November 2025, the Super Eagles reportedly refused to train in Rabat, Morocco, before a crucial 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon. The players cited unpaid allowances dating back to 2019, including payments linked to achievements such as qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup play-offs.

In April 2026, reports also emerged that members of Nigeria’s 2023 and 2025 Flying Eagles teams were demanding about N1.5bn from the NFF.

The amount reportedly covered qualification bonuses for six major tournaments as well as pre-tournament camping allowances accumulated over about 65 days.

The latest investigation comes amid wider concerns over the management of Nigerian football. The Super Falcons recently failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the Super Eagles also missed the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who assumed office after his election at the federation’s congress in Benin City in September 2022, is seeking another term at the proposed September 27 elective congress.

His administration has faced increasing criticism, although the NFF board has denied claims that the National Sports Commission is seeking to halt the election and establish a normalisation committee to oversee Nigerian football.

Efforts to obtain comments from the EFCC and ICPC spokespersons, Dele Oyewale and John Odey, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.

By Uzair Adam

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded Maryam Isah Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in prison custody following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged cyberbullying offence.

Shehu, who is also identified as a Kano-based blogger, was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on an amended charge dated August 20, 2026.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Shehu, on or about June 21, 2026, intentionally published a message on her Instagram account, @maryam_shehu, which the Commission said was aimed at damaging its reputation.

The EFCC alleged that the publication claimed that its officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman on the instruction of a zonal director who allegedly received N20 million from one Usman Iya Abbas.

The Commission said the alleged publication amounted to an offence under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and is punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the amended law.

The amended charge was signed by Elizabeth Alabi of the EFCC’s Legal and Prosecution Department.

The case followed allegations raised by Shehu regarding the conduct of some EFCC officials.

According to human rights lawyer Abba Hikima, Shehu was arrested in Kano and subsequently taken to Abuja after making allegations of corruption against officials of the Commission.

Hikima said Shehu was not arrested over allegations of stealing, fraud or money laundering, but in connection with a publication she made concerning the EFCC and its officials.

He further alleged that she had spent more than 30 days in EFCC custody before being brought before the court.

An account of Thursday’s proceedings indicated that Shehu had already spent close to 30 days in detention before her arraignment.

Following the proceedings, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Shehu be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings. She is to remain in custody until August 31, 2026.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Human rights lawyer and activist Abba Hikima has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of detaining Kano-based blogger Maryam Shehu for more than 30 days without charging her with an economic or financial crime.

Hikima made the allegation in a post on his verified Facebook page, saying Shehu was arrested in Kano and subsequently detained by the EFCC in Abuja after she allegedly raised corruption concerns involving some EFCC officials.

According to the lawyer, Shehu is not accused of stealing, fraud, money laundering or any other economic or financial crime. He also alleged that an EFCC official lured her with a business proposal before her arrest and transfer to Abuja.

Hikima further questioned the EFCC’s handling of the matter, arguing that the agency should not simultaneously act as complainant, investigator and judge in allegations involving its own officials.

He called for Shehu to either be charged before a competent court if she committed an offence or released to allow an independent investigation into the allegations against EFCC officials. He also appealed to human rights organisations to intervene in the case.

“Investigation is not punishment,” Hikima said, while calling for Shehu’s release or prosecution.

The EFCC had not responded to the accusations at the time of filing this report.

The allegations by Hikima could not be independently verified at the time of publication.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress has questioned the independence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after President Bola Tinubu directed the agency to return to court and withdraw its order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.

The opposition party said the President’s directive had raised concerns about the extent of executive influence over the anti-corruption agency.

Tinubu had on Thursday ordered the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the order freezing the state government’s accounts.

The President said the commission acted within its legal powers but faulted the timing of the action, which came days before the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Tinubu said he felt “deeply embarrassed” by the development because actions taken by federal agencies are often associated with the presidency. He also said no action should create an impression that the Federal Government was attempting to influence the outcome of the election.

The EFCC had earlier defended the freezing of the accounts. The commission said it was investigating alleged mismanagement of ecological and intervention funds by the Osun State Government and had detected suspicious transfers during the investigation.

The commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, also described the action as a routine measure and rejected claims that it was politically motivated. He cited a similar restriction placed on the accounts of the Edo State Government before its 2024 governorship election.

Reacting to the President’s directive in a statement on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, welcomed the decision but said Tinubu’s explanation had created additional questions.

“What we find most curious about the statement is the President’s repeated reference to an alleged court order authorising the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts,” he said.

“In all of its public statements on this matter, the EFCC never once claimed that it had obtained a court order. The commission consistently defended its actions on the basis of its statutory powers and what it described as its ‘preventive mandate’.

“At no point did it inform Nigerians that a court had authorised its actions. The obvious question, therefore, is: where did the President obtain the information that a court order existed? If such an order exists, why was it never mentioned by the EFCC in its statement while defending one of the most controversial actions it has taken in recent times?

“If no such order exists, why would the president introduce one into the public narrative? It is either the president was misinformed or he had chosen to misrepresent the facts. Either possibility is deeply disturbing.”

The ADC also said the President’s admission that he directed the EFCC to withdraw the matter from court appeared inconsistent with claims that anti-corruption agencies operate independently.

“The President also insists that he does not interfere in the operational activities of anti-corruption agencies, yet in the same statement he publicly announces that he has directed the EFCC to approach the court, vacate the alleged order, and discontinue its case,” Abdullahi said.

“If the President possesses the authority to direct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because the political consequences may affect an election, then it follows that he possesses the authority to direct the commission in other operational matters as well.

“The net implication is that the carefully cultivated argument that these agencies operate entirely independently collapses under the weight of the President’s own statement.”

The dispute comes less than two weeks before the August 15 Osun State governorship election, which has heightened political attention around actions involving the state government and federal institutions.

The ADC said the circumstances surrounding the account freeze and the subsequent presidential directive required further clarification from the Federal Government and the EFCC.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate a court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action just days before the state’s gubernatorial election.

The President issued the directive on Thursday, August 6, 2026, following the EFCC’s successful application for a court order on August 5, freezing the state government’s accounts.

In a statement from the State House, President Tinubu expressed deep embarrassment over the development, though he clarified that his discomfort was not with the EFCC’s statutory mandate but with the timing of the agency’s action.

“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference,” the President stated.

Tinubu emphasized his deliberate policy of non-interference in the operational activities of investigative and prosecutorial agencies, describing strong democratic institutions operating within the confines of the law as indispensable to good governance and the rule of law.

However, the President noted that while he had not been fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court, the timing was “inauspicious,” warranting his intervention.

“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election,” Tinubu stated.

The President directed the EFCC to “immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government.”

The intervention comes as political tensions rise in Osun State ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election, with opposition parties and civil society groups closely monitoring federal agencies’ activities in the state.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank account of the Osun State government, citing ongoing investigations into alleged fraudulent handling of public funds totalling N11 billion.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency said it has been investigating the state government since March 2026 over suspected mismanagement of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

According to the EFCC, several state officials, including the Accountant General, have already been interviewed by investigators as part of the probe.

The Commission explained that the freezing order became necessary after it observed “precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds” from the state’s accounts to various suspicious corporate entities beginning August 2, 2026.

“The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” the statement read.

Acknowledging the timing of the action, which comes ahead of the state’s governorship election, the EFCC maintained that its preventive mandate supersedes political considerations.

“The Commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged,” the statement said, adding that it would be “uncharitable” to use the upcoming election as an excuse to abandon its legally-assigned functions.

The EFCC further disclosed that it is monitoring the finances of other states similarly, noting that several state governments are currently on its investigative radar.

“The Commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians,” the statement emphasized.

The anti-graft agency urged the public to disregard “false narratives and deliberate demonization” of its work, insisting that the account freeze was implemented to protect public funds from being looted.