Chapter Five

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter presents the Summary of Finding, Discussion of Result, Conclusion,

Recommendation and Suggestion for Further Study.

5.1 Summary of Findings

5.2 Discussion of Result

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

5.5 Suggestion for Further Study

5.1 Summary of the Findings

Based on the analysis of data the following major findings emerged:

 That the EFCC under the regime of President Muhammed Buhari between 2015 to

2019 have not achieved more success thab those regimes before his.

 That EFCC fight against corruption and the level of corruption in Nigeria between

2015 to 2019 has not reduced when compared to those regime before President

Muhammed Burari between 2015 to 2019

 That people perception on the approach employed by the EFCC and the effectiveness

and efficiency of such approach between 2015 to 2019 has not improved.
5.2 Discussion of Result

The result of the first research question reveals that there is significant relationship between

the success of EFCC under the regime of President Muhammed Buhari between 2015 to 2019

and those regimes before his. This is in line with the study carried out by Ogbu (2008) he

stated that between May 2003 and June 2004 the EFCC is reported to have recovered money

and assets worth over N700 billion and to have arrested over 500 advance fee fraud kingpins.

Furthermore, between 2003 and 2006, the EFCC arraigned around 300 persons and secured

92 convictions (Osipitan and Odusote, 2014). Again in 2006, the EFCC is said to have

received 4,200 petitions on illegal corruption, investigated 1,200 petitions and instituted 406

corruption cases in court (Obuah, 2010). Between 2010 and 2014, the EFCC recovered a total

of N65.3 billion, which is equivalent to about US$360 million, while in 2015 it recovered

N141.9 billion which is equivalent to about US$715million (EFCC Landmark Achievement).

The result of the second research question emphasis that there is no significant relationship

between the EFCC fight against corruption and the level of corruption in Nigeria between

2015 to 2019. This finding is consistent with evidence of Kiewra (2019), it is noted that the

vast majority of convictions can be categorised as low- or mid-level economic and financial

crimes such as advance fee fraud (that is, obtaining by false pretences, criminal conspiracy,

criminal breach of trust, forgery and uttering, employment scam, impersonation and currency

counterfeiting), compared with higher level convictions arising from grand embezzlement of

public funds, illegally dealing in petroleum products and money laundering. Thus, it seems

that cases of grand corruption, particularly prosecutions involving politically exposed

persons, are rarely concluded within three years of being filed and it would appear that the

conviction rate is better for low- and mid-level corruption. At a workshop organised by the

Centre for Socio-Legal Studies and the National Judicial Council’s Corruption and Financial
Cases Trial Monitoring Committee, the judges in attendance decried the delays suffered in

the criminal prosecution of high profile Nigerians and that this occurrence threatens the

modest successes so far achieved (Punch 2018). Furthermore, a judge of the Federal High

Court expressed frustration in respect of a former governor convicted abroad but whose

associates were arraigned before him on corruption charges but 2 years after arraignment of

the associates, the prosecution states that they have been unable to conclude investigations

against the former governor (Punch 2018).

The result of the third research question indicates that there is no significance relationship

between people perception on the approach employed by the EFCC and the effectiveness and

efficiency of such approach between 2015 to 2019. In line with Mordi (2016) that the

perception of many Nigerians is that the EFCC as become a tool for the settlement of political

scores. The appointment of the current EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has fuelled this

perception and is another example of unhealthy political interference in the affairs of the

EFCC as the Nigerian Senate has refused to confirm Magu’s appointment due to an ongoing

rift with the Presidency.

5.3 Conclusion

Corruption and stealing have been part of human society from the Bible time. (KJV Joshua 7

generally). In particular, corruption has survived from then and till now. It has become a

sickness like malaria fever which has no permanent cure. By extrapolation, corruption is a sin

against humanity and it is the root of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. Undoubtedly,

traditional, moral and modern antidotes and measures to fight against this phenomenon called

corruption, which differ from country to country, have not been able to eradicate corrupt

practices in human society. This can be traceable to human imperfection. By extrapolation,

corruption can only be managed in developing and under-developing countries based on

effective implementation of sectoral policies through rule of law and best practices.

This research aimed at assessing the effort of EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria between

2015 to 2019 under the regime of President Muhammed Buhari and the challenges bedeviling

the Commission toward effective function. EFCC was chosen among the anti-graft agencies

in Nigeria due to its ability and courage to investigate and prosecute corruption cases more

than any ant-graft agencies. Since its establishment, EFCC has recorded tremendous

achievements in successfully recovering billions of naira and prosecuting a number of corrupt

people in the country. This study also proved that despite these achievements EFCC has

failed to win at least half of its cases in the courts of justice, the commission was also been

accused of itself being corrupt and partiality in its activities. Most of the cases won by the

commission were small and intermediate cases, while grand corruption cases involving

politicians are hardly finished within three years. This made corruption to remain as the most

serious Nigerian problem that bedeviled all tiers and sectors of the economy. Despite these

achievements corruption will remain with Nigeria depending on how government respond to

the challenges bedeviling anti-corruption crusade.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of this research work, it is hereby suggested or recommended that:

 The tenure of the Chairperson and Secretary of the EFCC should be fixed and not

renewable, and should straddle at least two tenures of a President and Senate (that is

between five and six years) to limit political influence over the EFCC.

 The Board of the EFCC should also have a staggered tenure, with no more than a

third of members being appointed by the government in power.

  Efforts should be made to undertake an organisational effectiveness map for the

EFCC that identifies skill sets that are needed.

 More relevant, targeted and bespoke training programmes should be designed that

link to the skills sets that are identified as lacking.

 Deliberations should continue on the institutional arrangements and focus of the

ACAs (EFCC and ICPC) to understand the overlap and to allow for streamlining

where needed.

5.5 Suggestion for Further Studies

To extend the current study, incorporating other Anti-Corruption Agencies will broaden the

scope of this research. Another route to extend the current study would be to examine the

effectiveness of the EFCC all through the regime of President Muhammed Buhari.
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