LOOTING THE LOOTERS: THE PARADOX OF ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADES IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC

 The ubiquitous nature of corruption in Nigeria’s political boulevard has been a cogged wheel that backpedal developmental liberation in the country. Consequently, Nigerian government embarked on major reform that led to the creation of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to eliminate the scars of corruption in Nigeria’s political map during Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime. However, the anti-corruption institution has received a lot of criticism among the general populace in Nigeria. The agency has been accused of politicization, selective operation, lack of transparency and as an instrument of political persecution. Therefore, this study investigates to what extent Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) becomes a political device in the hand of politicians in facilitating further looting and persecuting political enemies. The paper argues that various regimes in Nigeria’s fourth republic, ranging from Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration (1999-2007), Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s regime (2007-2010) and Goodluck Jonathan’s political dispensation (2010-2014) employed anti-corruption agency as a shield to foster corruption and persecute political opposition. Drastic measures are suggested for the efficiency, effectiveness and absolute autonomy of the agency in Nigeria.