Growing Perception of Injustice and Selective Prosecution by the EFCC in Nigeria – Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo

Nigeria stands today at a dangerous crossroads where justice appears increasingly selective and institutions meant to protect democracy are being questioned by the very citizens they were created to serve. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), once regarded as a crucial tool in the fight against corruption, is now facing increasing public scepticism over allegations of bias, media trials, and selective law enforcement.

The recent handling of cases involving Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor, alongside several other politically exposed individuals, has once again raised troubling questions about fairness, due process, and equal treatment under the law. Nigerians are not against accountability; in fact, the demand for accountability is louder than ever. What people reject, however, is a system where justice appears to be weaponised against some, while others, with equally serious allegations hanging over them, walk freely and comfortably in public view.

The rule of law demands consistency. It demands transparency. It demands that no individual is presumed guilty in the court of public opinion before their day in court. Unfortunately, what Nigerians increasingly witness are media parades, dramatic arrests, and selective urgency, often coinciding with political realignments or power shifts. This pattern weakens public trust and gives the impression that anti-corruption efforts are being used as tools of intimidation rather than instruments of justice.

It is also deeply concerning that while some former governors are aggressively pursued, many others with unresolved allegations, some backed by documented reports, remain untouched for years. This disparity fuels the belief that the EFCC answers not only to the law, but to political interests. In any democracy, this perception alone is enough to undermine institutional credibility.

Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. When enforcement agencies appear inconsistent, they inadvertently embolden corruption instead of fighting it. Citizens begin to believe that survival depends not on innocence, but on political loyalty and connections. This is a dangerous message to send in a nation already struggling with cynicism, economic hardship, and declining faith in governance.

Nigeria does not need selective justice. Nigeria needs institutional courage the courage to investigate all allegations with the same intensity, regardless of party, influence, or proximity to power. Nigeria needs an EFCC that is blind to politics and loyal only to the constitution. Anything less is an injustice to the Nigerian people.

We call on the EFCC to return to its foundational principles: professionalism, impartiality, respect for due process, and accountability. We also urge the judiciary, civil society, and the media to resist being used as instruments of persecution or propaganda. Anti-corruption must never become anti-democracy.

History will judge this era not by how many headlines were generated, but by whether justice was applied evenly and honourably. Nigeria deserves better. Nigerians deserve better.