EFCC secures over 8,785 convictions under Buhari administration

GNot less than 8,785 persons have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms through the efforts Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the last seven and half years of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The convictions showed an increase of over 3574.8% from 305 convictions that was recorded in 2015 when President Buhari assumed office.

A recent review of EFCC’s performance showed that over 3785 convictions were recorded in 2022 across all commands of the agency in the country.

The figure, which emerged from a review of the Commission’s performance in the out gone year, shows a 70.5% improvement over 2220 convictions its recorded in 2021.

EFCC spokesman said in a statement that “it also represents a 98.93% success rate in prosecution given that the Commission lost only 41 cases, representing 1.07% within the period”(last year).

“As it was in 2021, the Lagos Command of the Agency recorded the most convictions-765, closely followed by the Ibadan Command with 573 convictions and the Port Harcourt Zonal Command- 567, while the headquarters recorded 314 convictions,”

The Buhari administration was elected in 2015 on a tripod of promises- anti-corruption, economic recovery and security. In 2015, EFCC recorded a total of 103 convictions.

This shot to 195 convictions in 2016, the first full year in office of the Buhari administration. The figure improved to 312 in 2018, 1280 in 2019, dropped slightly to 976 conviction in 2020, the year of covid-19, then moved up to 2220 in 2021.

The percentile improvement of the EFCC convictions in the seven years of the Buhari administration from 103 to 3785, is over 3574.8%.

Commenting on the performance, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, commended the personnel of the Commission for their industry and dedication despite the challenges of criminal prosecution in court. He assured that the EFCC will continue to motivate all categories of staff for greater efficiency through capacity development and other incentives.

However, nothing was said in the performance record about high profile cases that indicted individuals who alleged stole the country fortunes.

A legal practitioner and activist Dr. Timothy Bernard said that EFCC record of performance as presented to the public was silent on the categories of persons convicted.

He said that he was sure that majority of the convicts are yahoo yahoo boys, while the high profile criminals and looters continue to have their ways in our courts and are walking freely.