The Fight Against Bribery and Corruption in Nigeria. An Assessment of the Performance of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

ABSTRACT The issues of bribery and corruption have taken a central stage in the polity as a matter of grave concern to all well-meaning citizens and Nigerian government. This is in view of the endemic nature of the phenomenon in our society which hinders growth and indeed development. Concerned with the issue of bribery and corruption, the Nigeria government has set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other institutions designed to combat the malaise and to promote good governance and transparency. The major objective of the research work is to assess the performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fighting against bribery and corruption in Nigeria. Data for the study were generated from both primary and secondary sources. The instrument for primary data collection is questionnaires, while for the secondary data collection includes published and unpublished text. Well frame hypotheses are stated for the purpose of this research. The study also revealed that irrespective of the fact that, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has succeeded in reducing corruption in the country to some degree, the same Act that created the Commission has, on the other hand, constituted hindrance to the Commission by creating undue interference from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Presidency, hence vitiating the autonomy of the Commission. The inability of other institutions in the temple of justice like the judiciary to apportioned appropriate punishment to the perpetrators of corruption. The research work recommends the independence of Economic and financial Crimes commission (EFCC), removal of immunity clause, improvement in educational infrastructural facilities and speedy dispensation of justice.