Perception of the Performance of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was established to address the challenges posed by corrupt practices. Corruption is an abuse of public position for private gain, against an individual or group to whom one owes allegiance. Nigeria has reportedly lost about $600 billion from 1960 to date. About N1.3 trillion of public funds was laundered just between 2011 and 2015. Nigeria was also ranked the most corrupt nation in the world in 1999 and 149th out of 179 countries on the 2020 Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International. About 60% of youth surveyed in Nigeria confessed to having bribed to obtain government service, speed up a procedure or avoid paying a fine. Consequently the rate of unemployment is about 42% with about another 21% underemployed. Currently, there are graduates that stay unemployed for over 10 years. It is pertinent to note that Nigeria’s dependent capitalism is practically characterized by institutional envelopment of characteristics of historical slavery, forms of feudalism and capitalism that holistically created a culture of confusion that generates a polluted system of corrupt practices, insecurity, dependency and vicious circle of underdevelopment. About 96% of 140 respondents for this study considered the mandate in EFCC (establishment) Act 2004 as not visibly implemented as required. Clearly then the commission has failed drastically in reducing corrupt practices in Nigeria. No wonder Marx and Engels believed that laws in capitalist societies reflect economic relations. The domination of capital was revealed not merely in the content of laws but in their enforcement and their accessibility to only a small section of the people. The police and justice of peace were partisan, assuming the guilt of the proletarian, and treating him rudely and brutally while the occasional middle class was given exceptional treatment. There is no explanation for possessing agencies of anticorruption by the Nigerian government just to serve as mere decorations. Science and technology is meant for development and they should be used for the same purpose in detecting crimes of corruption and acting against the actors accordingly. Consequently following recommendations are offered. The culture of impunity and perpetuation of corruption in Nigeria should be discouraged. Categorical accountability must be displayed by authorities to resolve the criminality of corruption. The public must be encouraged to question and seek answers from accountable officials. This may expedite revolutions that end in egalitarianism that displays all criminal values.