Nigerian American forensic psychologist and criminal justice expert, Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, has said Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede is focused on building a professional, sustainable anti-graft institution that can remain effective beyond his tenure.
Oshodi, in a commentary on Monday, said Olukoyede’s leadership had focused on strengthening professional investigations, developing young officers, recovering assets and improving preventive measures against financial crimes.
According to him, the EFCC chairman’s approach was centred more on building a sustainable institution than promoting his personal profile.
“Olukoyede is building more than cases. He is building professional capacity. He is building young officers. He is building preventive systems. He is building public awareness. He is building confidence in lawful anti-corruption enforcement,” Oshodi said.
The professor said the effectiveness of Olukoyede’s tenure should not be measured by his media visibility but by whether the EFCC becomes more professional, transparent, impartial and resilient.
His assessment followed Olukoyede’s recent presentation at the 43rd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime in the United Kingdom, where the EFCC chairman reportedly disclosed that the commission had secured the forfeiture of cash and assets worth more than $500 million to the Federal Government.
Oshodi said the figure was significant but represented only one aspect of what he described as Olukoyede’s broader institutional approach.
He noted that the EFCC chairman had continued to emphasise professional investigation, asset tracing, forensic capabilities, international cooperation, whistleblower participation, due process and the development of young officers.
“He does not appear interested in presenting himself as a solitary national hero. Instead, he consistently directs attention toward the institution, its mandate, its personnel, and the systems required to combat sophisticated financial crimes,” Oshodi said.
The professor also stressed the importance of due process in the EFCC’s asset recovery activities, citing the case involving properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
He said EFCC investigators traced 57 properties allegedly connected to the former minister, with a Federal High Court ordering the final forfeiture of 48. The court, however, declined to forfeit nine others after finding that the EFCC had not sufficiently established their connection to unlawful activity.
Oshodi said the outcome demonstrated the importance of judicial oversight, noting that while the EFCC investigates and presents evidence, courts determine whether the legal requirements for forfeiture have been met.
On allegations of selective prosecution, he said concerns about unequal enforcement should be taken seriously but should not prevent the commission from investigating cases where credible evidence exists.
He urged the EFCC to maintain professionalism and guard against political pressure, unlawful detention, mistreatment of suspects, compromised evidence and investigative failures.
Oshodi further said investment in young investigators remained critical, particularly in areas such as forensic accounting, cybercrime, digital evidence, cryptocurrency, intelligence analysis, asset tracing and international cooperation.
He also backed stronger preventive measures, including improved procurement systems, beneficial ownership information, audits, suspicious transaction reporting and internal controls.
According to him, the ultimate test of Olukoyede’s leadership would be whether the EFCC could continue to operate effectively and professionally after his departure.
“The true test of Olukoyede’s leadership will not be whether the EFCC remains dependent upon him. It will be whether the Commission can continue operating professionally and effectively after he is gone,” he said.
