EFCC warns of sponsored smear campaigns ahead of 2027 elections

ABUJA – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised an alarm over what it describes as a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated by politicians and groups with vested interests in suspects under its investigation or prosecution.

In a statement released on Wednesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency asserted that the planned attacks aim to undermine its operations and intimidate it into inaction as the 2027 general elections approach.

Oyewale claimed that a “motley crowd of paid jobbers,” including politicians, academics, civil society activists, and some Nigerian fugitives abroad, have been recruited to launch sponsored media assaults against EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and the commission itself.

The objective, he stated, is to create a false narrative of political bias and scare the EFCC from investigating opposition figures.

“Their goal is to befuddle the works of the commission and, through scaremongering, intimidate it into a timid mode, where it will be afraid to investigate opposition politicians for fear of being labelled as partisan,” Oyewale said.

He warned that these attacks are likely to intensify as the political climate heats up ahead of the 2027 polls.

The EFCC spokesperson, however, issued a stern notice to those involved, stating that their activities are being closely monitored and that the commission will not be distracted from its mandate.

“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities,” Oyewale emphasized. “Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place.”

He further noted that several prominent members from both the ruling and opposition parties are currently facing trial or under investigation.

Oyewale also defended the commission’s adherence to due process, explaining that its operations are guided by its Establishment Act and the constitution.

He made it clear that the EFCC would not be pressured into publicly disclosing details of ongoing investigations involving politically exposed persons.

“The EFCC will not be pressured or blackmailed into making public disclosures,” he stated. “The commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfillment of its mandate.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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