The Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, Oshodi Johnson, has dismissed claims that the agency targets Nigerians for persecution. Speaking at a workshop for journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, he emphasized that the Commission’s operations are intelligence-driven.

Oshodi explained that no individual is arrested or invited for questioning over suspected financial crimes without credible intelligence, either from the public or verified sources. He called for collaboration with the public, urging them to provide useful and credible information on suspected financial and cybercriminal activities.

He said, “Please I want the public to ignore the stereotype. EFCC is not an organisation that persecutes. We are an intelligence-driven organization. No person can be invited to the Commission without having intelligence about him. It’s wrong that everybody wants to hide under the cover of persecution.”

Highlighting the evolving nature of financial crimes, Oshodi noted that fraudsters increasingly exploit cryptocurrencies and digital transactions.

In a related presentation titled “Understanding Cryptocurrency Fraud and Other Emerging Financial Crimes”, Emeka Ukpai noted that new fraud techniques and technologies continue to emerge daily. He added that most stolen funds are now concealed in digital wallets, with some using cryptocurrencies to hide gains and evade taxes—a practice he described as “new offshore banking.”

Also speaking, Head of the Legal and Prosecution Department, Uyo Directorate, Ifeyinwa Azegbeobor, lamented that Nigeria loses billions of naira annually to corruption and fraud. She stressed that prosecuting financial crimes is vital to deterring future offenders. Azegbeobor also highlighted the role of CSOs and journalists in vetting tip-offs, preserving evidence, and verifying information before publication to avoid undermining fair trials.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, represented by Aisha Mohammed, Head of Enlightenment and Reorientation, urged media organizations to help correct public misconceptions about the Commission. He noted that the EFCC emphasizes crime prevention, including the establishment of anti-corruption clubs in secondary and tertiary institutions to instill values of integrity in young people.

Oyewale encouraged the public to provide credible information or genuine complaints through the EFCC’s official social media platforms, hotline 0809-3322644, or the nearest EFCC office, emphasizing that “the fight against corruption is a fight for all, not for the agency alone.”