Court Orders Preventing Us from Investigating in 10 States – EFCC Chairman

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the inability of the agency to investigate financial crimes in 10 states due to court orders restraining its activities.

Speaking at the 6th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, Olukoyede lamented that court restrictions have significantly hindered the agency’s operations in certain regions. He refrained from naming the affected states but emphasized that these legal barriers have become a major obstacle in the fight against corruption.

The workshop, themed “Integrating Stakeholders in Curbing Economic and Financial Crimes,” was described by Olukoyede as timely and relevant in addressing the challenges faced by the EFCC.

He further expressed frustration over other legal hurdles, including the frequent adjournment of high-profile cases, contempt orders, and the use of technicalities to delay justice. The EFCC boss urged the judiciary to discourage the practice of suspects seeking court orders to prevent their arrest or investigation, which he said undermines anti-corruption efforts.

While acknowledging that the EFCC is not without flaws, Olukoyede assured that the agency is reforming its investigative processes in compliance with the law, aiming to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in tackling economic and financial crimes.

More updates to follow.