ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) IN COMBATING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA 2003 - 2007

Nigeria post independent era witnessed various kinds of manifestation and widespread corruption as a result of oil boom and the transfer of power from the colonial master to indigenous educated ruling elites. This made the government to set up various machines / institutions to control corruption and other financial crimes in the country. One among such institutions is the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) but has the commission carried out its roles effectively on the control of financial crimes in the country between 2003-2007and 2013? This is what this research intends to find out. In carrying out the study, data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary source are the questionnaires, observation and personal interview; whereas the secondary data were generated through textbooks, newspapers, journals, dictionary, encyclopedia and websites. The population was obtained from both staff of EFCC and members of the public. The population size of the data is about two hundred and ninety whereas fifty was the population and sample of the later. The major findings of the study include the following: that government influence is minimal in the affairs of the commission, the commission is financially buoyant, EFCC has minimized the rate of corruption within the country among others. certain recommendation were also made such as legal practitioners with demonstrable track record should be encouraged to fight corruption, law makers, educational and religious institutions, the civil society should also be actively involved in the fight against corruption.