Whatsoever may have prompted the creation and formation of EFFC, by the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, i believe it was apt, because, as we entered the new millenium, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria took on new heinous and humongous dimension hence the need for a dedicated formation tasked with the responsiblity of ensuring such crimes were effectively punished by the rule of law.
However over the years, the instrumentality of EFCC has suffered abuse, as Myles munroe is often quoted with the saying "when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable". However i will modify it futher by stating that "When something meant for public use is highjacked for selfish reasons, abuse and victimization becomes rampant". That has been the ordeal of EFFC right from its creation.
Moving forward, the question on my mind is how can the instrumentality of EFCC be effectively strengthened to fight corruption that is ever ubiqitous and endemic in our polity without sentimental bias?
The answer is granting EFCC full autonomy and independence with strong laws backing them to prosecute all kinds of financial crimes from the highest political office in the land, to the common man in the street.
The EFCC should be granted full autonomy like the judiciary and should be mandated by law to investigate and prosecute every petition bordering on financial crimes written to it by any individual of the public. Their role in the society should closely resemble those of District Attorneys in the US but their jurisdiction should only be financial crimes.
The EFCC should be backed by law to compulsorily probe or carry out a forensic audit on the public expenditure of every political office holder and for those protected by immunity after their tenure elapse to answer for any form of financial impropriety while in power to check mate looting in the polity. This should be one of their key statutory role and function.
The EFCC should not be concentrated in abuja, it should be decentralized with regional headquarters across the six geopolitical zones of the country with the overall headquarters in abuja.
Every state should have an EFCC office to investigate all financial crimes as it happens in the state.
Finally, the EFCC team should compose of lawyers, forensic auditors, and a paramilitary wing to arrest and prosecute financial crimes.
Any government serious about fighting the hydra headed monster of corruption will do these. Any thing less than these is just mere rhetorics and playing to the gallery.
This is my humble submission.
cc lalasticlala