AN INVENTORY ON THE ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF THE EFCC IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The Nigerian legislation has always favoured the jurisdiction of the Nigerian police in matters appertaining to crime and criminal investigations. However, the economic and global effect of cyber development has created crevice in the ordinary nature of crime and criminal activities, inclusive of crimes such as cybercrimes, economic and financial crimes, money laundering, and etcetera. Oftentimes and most times, the criminal activities concomitant to internet regime has operated to affect the economic and financial development of the country. Sadly enough, the threshold pillar harbouring the development of this new set of criminal activities remain the internet regime, which portends a negative impact on socio-economic development, international banking and financial growth. The sophistication associated with this trend requires a well-trained department conversant in information communication technology. This has given rise to the establishment of the economic and financial crimes commission. Consequent on the above, the author strived to unravel the role and challenges of the EFCC within the economy as well as in juxtaposition to the e-administration and e-governance developmental structure of the country. The paper therefore argued that arresting incidental criminal harvest and menaces associated with the internet regime required a critical consideration of the role and challenges of the EFCC in Nigeria. The author maintained the need to checking the subsisting ‘effort-fatigue’ of the EFCC.