•EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been urged to prioritise credible evidence over media narratives in prosecuting corruption cases, following the reported acquittal of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke by a United Kingdom court.
A public affairs analyst, Dr Ephriam Attah, made the call in an interview with journalists in Abuja, saying anti-graft agencies must build cases capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny rather than relying on public sentiment.
His remarks followed reports that the Southwark Crown Court in the UK cleared Alison-Madueke of six bribery-related charges filed by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), reports The Nation.
Attah said the outcome of the proceedings should prompt Nigerian anti-corruption agencies to strengthen the quality of their investigations before initiating prosecutions.
“The fight against corruption is necessary, but it must always be anchored on facts, due process and the rule of law. Media narratives cannot replace evidence before a competent court,” he said.
He expressed concern over the reputational damage suffered by public officials whose cases attract widespread publicity before they are concluded in court.
The analyst cited the case of Bernard Otti, a former Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), arguing that despite the constitutional presumption of innocence, some individuals continue to face public condemnation because of the positions they once held.
Attah said his comments were not intended to undermine the anti-corruption campaign but to encourage a more professional, balanced and legally sound approach to investigations and prosecutions.
He also urged the federal government to harness the expertise of retired technocrats to support ongoing economic reforms, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
According to him, experienced former public officials possess valuable institutional knowledge that could strengthen transparency, improve revenue generation and enhance public financial management.
Attah warned that frequent leadership changes and administrative restructuring have weakened institutional memory across key government agencies, making policy implementation more difficult.
He noted that while several developing countries retain retired senior public finance professionals as advisers and mentors, Nigeria lacks a structured framework to benefit from their experience.
He recommended appointing retired technocrats to advisory councils, reform committees, and fiscal governance panels to promote continuity in public-sector reforms.
“Nigeria’s economic reform agenda will succeed not only because of new policies but because institutions have the capacity to implement and sustain those policies. That requires a combination of innovation, accountability and experienced professionals who understand the systems from within,” he said.
