The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned Nigerians against the growing culture of celebrating and honouring individuals convicted of corruption, warning that such actions undermine the country’s fight against graft.
The warning was issued by Nasir Salele, Head of the Legal Department at the EFCC Kaduna Zonal Directorate, during a one-day capacity-building workshop for media practitioners and civil society organisations held in Kaduna. Salele expressed concern that many communities choose to glorify convicted persons instead of condemning corrupt behaviour.
According to him, there have been instances where community members attend court proceedings, not to support prosecution, but to defend individuals facing corruption charges. He added that in extreme cases, supporters have even protested naked in solidarity with the accused.
Salele cited a notable case where a convicted individual was celebrated by his entire community after completing a prison sentence, describing the act as deeply troubling. He noted that such attitudes reflect a wider societal problem where unexplained wealth is rewarded with traditional titles rather than questioned.
He warned that this mindset often casts prosecutors as enemies for simply performing their lawful duties, thereby weakening public trust in anti-corruption efforts.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Kaduna Directorate, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, praised the media and civil society organisations for their critical role in the fight against corruption. He described journalists as key accountability actors who expose financial misconduct, abuse of office and fraud.
Kaltungo reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to stronger collaboration with stakeholders, stressing that the anti-corruption fight requires collective national effort.
Also speaking, the Head of Public Interface at the EFCC headquarters, ACE I Tony Orilade, criticised the trend of publicly supporting corrupt individuals, noting that some Nigerians even wear asoebi in their defence. He insisted that the nation must be protected from corrupt persons and fraudsters.
In her remarks, the Head of Public Relations of the EFCC Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Zainab Sani Ahmed, called on the media to intensify public enlightenment and urged Nigerians to actively join the fight against corruption.
