Prominent human rights lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has issued a harsh criticism of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling the agency a "terrorist organization."
He made these comments during an interview on Arise TV's morning show, where he accused EFCC operatives of misusing their authority to intimidate and harass Nigerians.
"They are terrorists... they are terrorizing us... intimidating Nigerians with their powers," Agbakoba stated emphatically, expressing his deep frustration with the conduct of the EFCC.
Agbakoba's criticisms are not new; he has a history of challenging the legitimacy and operations of the EFCC. Recently, he took his concerns to the legislative chambers, writing letters to both the Senate and the House of Representatives to question the constitutional basis of the EFCC's establishment by the Federal Government.
He contends that the agency operates beyond the framework established by the Nigerian Constitution, raising alarms about its potential overreach and misuse of authority.
Agbakoba said,
"In order to be able to resolve the issue surrounding the legitimacy of the EFCC, it's for the House of Assembly to clarify what the EFCC should be doing. Why do we have the EFCC, Special Fraud Unit, and ICPC all doing the same thing, yet they are not catching anybody?
"The EFCC has done some good things, but it has also done a lot of bad things. Even Tarfa, as rogue as he was, being dragged; was that correct? In a sane society, do you bring a former Inspector General of Police and drag him? That's not right. If you bring the constitution and say maybe we give them a pass mark, I'm not going to give them any pass mark because these guys are terrorists.
"In my view, they terrorize us. They use their might, in their red coats, to terrorize us so that when you hear EFCC, you become scared. That's not what a law enforcement agency should be; they ought to be better.
"The deficiencies in the system are no reason for anyone to get away, because that would defeat the whole purpose."
His remarks come at a time when public scrutiny of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria is intensifying. Many citizens are questioning whether these institutions are effectively adhering to their mandates or if they are exercising unchecked power.
Agbakoba's vocal criticism has amplified calls for urgent reforms and increased oversight of the EFCC, highlighting the need for accountability within the agency.
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