EFFECT OF ACTIVITIES OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) IN MANAGEMENT OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Corruption is a major issue in Nigeria, undermining governance and economic development. This study assesses the effectiveness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in combating corruption, particularly in relation to funds recovery, judicial delays, and the connivance of public officials in money laundering activities. It examined how these factors impact the EFCC’s effectiveness in curbing corrupt activities. The study x-rayed various theories such as low-risk-high-benefit theory, resource curse theory, theory of two publics and anomie theory while adopting the anomie and low-risk high benefit theories as theoretical bases. Data was collected using a well - structured questionnaire and a simple random sampling technique. The study employed correlation and regression analysis to assess the relationship between key variables affecting the EFCC's performance over the period from 2015 to 2022. Data were sourced from official EFCC, reports, court records, and other relevant documents. A regression model was used to test the significance of these variables in determining the effectiveness of the EFCC. This highlights the crucial role of the EFCC's actions in addressing corrupt practices in Nigeria. Enhancing the EFCC's funds recovery efforts and addressing judicial delays are critical to improving its effectiveness in combating corruption. The researcher recommended continuous training, inter-agency collaboration, and public support as vital tools to strengthening the agency's capacity to fulfill its mandate despite existing challenges.