Arewa Youths Accuse EFCC Of Selective Prosecution

Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of engaging in selective prosecution, calling for immediate action against high-profile individuals facing corruption allegations.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the group’s publicity secretary, Aliyu Muhammad, criticised the anti-graft agency for allegedly shielding certain prominent figures from prosecution despite serious accusations of money laundering, bribery and diversion of public funds.

Among those named are former governors who no longer enjoy constitutional immunity but are yet to be prosecuted.

“Why have these cases been abandoned while opposition figures are aggressively pursued? This selective justice is unacceptable,” the spokesperson said.

The group highlighted the case of Umar Ganduje, who was caught on video allegedly receiving kickbacks yet remains free from EFCC action. They also referenced the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, who is facing multiple allegations of corruption but has not been prosecuted.

The assembly warned that a selective approach undermines the credibility of the anti-graft agency and erodes public confidence in its ability to carry out its mandate impartially.

“The EFCC must act now to prosecute these individuals or risk being seen as a tool for political persecution rather than a genuine anti-corruption agency,” he added.

The group further urged the EFCC to provide transparency regarding its criteria for pursuing cases, warning that failure to address these concerns could lead to public protests. “The public deserves to know why certain individuals are being protected while others are targeted,” the youth group said.