ABUJA, Nigeria — Two prominent Nigerian civil society groups offered sharply contrasting responses to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday over a disputed 78.8 billion naira [$52 million] case.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre commended the anti-graft agency for what it called a decisive and diligent investigation, saying the EFCC’s actions demonstrated renewed commitment to tackling financial crime in Africa’s largest economy.
But the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project demanded immediate and transparent accountability, alleging that the 78.8 billion naira in question had not been properly accounted for and urging the commission to publish a full audit.
The dispute highlights long-standing public skepticism over Nigeria’s fight against corruption. The EFCC, created in 2003 to investigate financial crimes, has secured high-profile convictions but has also faced repeated accusations of selective prosecution and lack of transparency from rights groups and international watchdogs.
