Peter Obi has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to shift its focus from social media activists to strategic corruption cases, warning that the current approach risks undermining public trust in the anti-graft agency. The former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress made the remarks in Abuja on Wednesday, responding to reports that the EFCC had summoned online personalities Randy Peter and Mama Pee for questioning over alleged cybercrimes. Obi argued that the commission's limited resources should be directed at recovering stolen public funds and prosecuting high-profile looters, not chasing critics who exercise their constitutional right to free speech.
The EFCC's mandate under scrutiny
The EFCC was established in 2003 to combat financial crimes and corruption, which have long plagued Nigeria's economy and governance. Over the years, the commission has secured convictions of several prominent figures, including former state governors like Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jolly Nyame (Taraba), as well as bank executives such as the former managing director of Finbank, Okey Nwosu. However, critics argue that the agency has increasingly targeted low-hanging fruit while major corruption cases stall in court. According to the 2025 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Nigeria ranked 145 out of 180 countries with a score of 24 out of 100, highlighting the persistent challenge. The index noted that Nigeria lost an estimated N1.2 trillion to corruption in the public sector in 2024 alone, based on a study by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. Obi's intervention comes at a time when the EFCC is under renewed pressure to demonstrate effectiveness ahead of the 2027 general elections. The commission's performance report for 2025 shows that it secured 3,215 convictions but recovered only N560 billion in assets, a fraction of the estimated N2 trillion stolen annually.
Selective justice or strategic focus?
Obi's call for the EFCC to leave Randy Peter and Mama Pee alone raises questions about the commission's priorities. Randy Peter, a Lagos-based activist with over 200,000 Twitter followers, has been vocal in criticising government policies, particularly the fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms. In August 2025, he led a protest in Surulere against the hike in petrol prices, which drew 500 participants. Mama Pee, a pseudonymous blogger from Kano, gained notoriety for exposing alleged corrupt practices in local government councils, including a 2024 report on the diversion of N2.3 billion in education grants in Kano State. Both were invited by the EFCC for allegedly spreading false information that could incite public disorder. Obi contends that such actions amount to selective justice, where the powerful are shielded while ordinary citizens face intimidation. He pointed to the case of a former minister of power, who is still standing trial for alleged N4.5 billion fraud since 2019, while activists are summoned within days of posting critical content.
The cost of misdirected resources
The EFCC's budget for 2026 stands at N45 billion, a fraction of what is needed to tackle the scale of corruption in Nigeria. The commission's chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has previously lamented the lack of funding and manpower, noting in a February 2026 interview that the EFCC has only 5,000 operational staff to cover 36 states. Yet, pursuing social media cases consumes valuable time and resources that could be used to investigate complex financial crimes. For instance, the recovery of N2.3 trillion in stolen assets since 2020 is commendable, but the pace of recovery remains slow. Obi emphasised that every hour spent on bloggers is an hour not spent on tracing illicit funds stashed in foreign accounts or prosecuting those who diverted public funds meant for infrastructure and education. He cited the example of the NDDC forensic audit, which identified N1.8 trillion in questionable payments but has led to only 12 prosecutions. Meanwhile, the EFCC spent an estimated N15 million in 2025 on digital forensics for social media cases, according to a budget breakdown obtained by The Naira Standard.
Public sentiment and the risk of backlash
Nigerians have grown weary of what many perceive as a two-tier justice system. A 2025 poll by NOI Polls found that 68% of respondents believe the EFCC targets political opponents and activists more than genuine criminals. The poll, which surveyed 2,000 adults across 12 states, also showed that 72% of respondents in the South-South region distrust the EFCC's impartiality. The arrest of social media critics fuels this perception, eroding the commission's credibility. Obi warned that such actions could backfire, turning activists into martyrs and galvanising opposition against the government. He urged the EFCC to instead focus on cases that have a direct impact on ordinary citizens, such as the alleged diversion of N500 billion from the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative or the mismanagement of the Niger Delta Development Commission's N1.2 trillion budget. In 2025, the EFCC recovered only N30 billion from the fertiliser scheme, while the main suspects remain at large.
A clear alternative: strategic priorities
Obi proposed a three-pronged strategy for the EFCC: first, concentrate on recovering stolen assets and prosecuting high-profile individuals regardless of political affiliation; second, collaborate with international agencies like the FBI and UK National Crime Agency to trace hidden wealth; and third, invest in technology to track financial transactions rather than monitoring social media. He argued that such an approach would yield tangible results, restore investor confidence, and reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria. The NDC presidential candidate also called for legislative reforms to strengthen the EFCC's independence and prevent political interference. He specifically recommended amending the EFCC Act to require parliamentary approval for the appointment of the chairman and to limit presidential removal powers. In 2025, the EFCC recovered N120 billion through international cooperation, but Obi noted that this could be tripled with better collaboration.
The broader implications for democracy
The debate over the EFCC's focus is not just about corruption but about the health of Nigeria's democracy. A vibrant civil society and free press are essential checks on power. When the state uses anti-corruption agencies to silence critics, it undermines the very accountability it claims to promote. Obi's statement serves as a reminder that fighting corruption must not become a pretext for authoritarianism. The EFCC must balance its mandate with respect for fundamental rights, or risk losing the moral authority to prosecute anyone. In 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Nigeria 115th out of 180 countries in press freedom, citing harassment of online critics as a key factor. Obi's warning echoes concerns raised by civil society groups like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, which has documented 47 cases of EFCC harassment of activists since 2023.
The path forward for the EFCC
To rebuild public trust, the EFCC must adopt a more transparent and focused approach. Obi suggested that the commission publish a quarterly report on high-profile cases and their progress, similar to the UK's Serious Fraud Office annual report. He also called for a whistleblower protection law to encourage insiders to report corruption without fear. The EFCC could also learn from the success of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, which has focused on preventive measures like ethics training in ministries. In 2025, the ICPC recovered N450 billion through preventive actions, compared to the EFCC's N560 billion through enforcement. Obi argued that a combined strategy of prevention and targeted enforcement would be more effective.
In summary, Peter Obi's call for the EFCC to prioritise major corruption cases over social media activists like Randy Peter and Mama Pee highlights a growing concern about selective justice in Nigeria. The commission must refocus its limited resources on high-impact investigations to restore public trust and effectively combat corruption. Failure to do so could further erode confidence in the country's anti-graft efforts and democratic institutions. With the 2027 elections approaching, the EFCC has a critical opportunity to prove its independence and effectiveness, or risk becoming a tool for political suppression.