Abstract

Corruption is recognized as the bane of the Nigerian society as it undermines governance. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was established to mitigate the menace of economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. This was informed by the upsurge of corruption by government officials and the need to enthrone probity in governance in the country. This study therefore appraises the performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in reducing corruption in Nigeria. It examines the impact of immunity of public officeholders and the arrests and prosecution of corrupt government officials on the effective enforcement of economic and financial crime laws in Nigeria by the EFCC. It utilized the qualitative method in the collection and analysis of data; while structural functional theory served as the theoretical framework of analysis. The study demonstrated that immunity of public officeholders has not hindered the effective enforcement of economic and financial crimes laws by EFCC in Nigeria. It also revealed that arrests and prosecution of government officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not reduced the incidence of corruption among government official in Nigeria. It therefore, concludes that the enforcement of the economic and financial crimes laws in Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not led to reduction in economic and financial crimes by public officeholders. It therefore recommends enhancing the independence of EFCC and the passage of the Special Courts (Establishment) Bill to designate specific courts to hear corruption cases to facilitate prosecution of corrupt officials.

Contents Title – – – – – – – – – i Approval – – – – – – – – ii Dedication – – – – – – – – iii Acknowledgements – – – – – – – iv Abstract – – – – – – – – vi Contents – – – – – – – – vii List of Tables – – – – – – – – ix List of Figures – – – – – – – – ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study – – – – – 1 1.2 Statement of the Problems – – – – – 7 1.3 Objectives of the Study – – – – – 8 1.4 Significance of the Study – – – – – 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Corruption and Incidence of Corruption in Nigeria – – 11 2.2 Immunity and Political Corruption in Nigeria – – 24 2.3 Arrests and Prosecution of Corrupt Public Officials – – 28 2.4 Gap in Literature – – – – – – 30 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Theoretical Framework – – – – – 32 3.2 Hypotheses – – – – – – – 36 3.3 Research Design – – – – – – 37 3.4 Methods of Data Collection – – – – – 37 3.5 Methods of Data Analysis – – – – – 39 3.6 Logical Data Framework – – – – – 40 CHAPTER FOUR: ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS AND THE IMMUNITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN NIGERIA 4.1 Anti-Corruption Laws in Nigeria – — – – 44 4.2 Powers and Responsibilities of the EFCC – – – 56 4.3 Activities of EFCC since Creation – – – – 59 4.4 Immunity and Prosecution of Public Officials in Nigeria – 63 4.5 Executive Immunity under the Nigerian Constitution – 66 CHAPTER FIVE: ARRESTS AND PROSECUTION OF CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN NIGERIA BY EFCC 5.1 Arrests and Prosecution of Public Officials by the EFCC – 74 5.2 Prosecution and Conviction of Corrupt Officials – – 81 5.3 Factors Undermining EFCC Anti-Corruption Efforts – 83 5.4 Political Interference in Anti-Corruption Cases – – 86 5.5 Judicial Inefficiency and Deliberate Delay in Prosecution of 8 Corrupt Officials – – – – – – 89 5.6 The EFCC’S Own Shortcomings – – – – 92 5.7 Unreliable Partners: The ICPC and CCB – – – 93 CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1 Summary – – – – – – – 98 6.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – 103 6.3 Recommendations – – – – – – 104 Bibliography – – – – – — – 105 Appendix – – – – – – – 111