Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Human rights activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has sharply criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the tragic death of Endurance Udeke, a resident of Periwinkle Estate in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The EFCC had earlier released a statement claiming it “felt obliged to clear the air” on the circumstances leading to Udeke’s death, which occurred during a sting operation at the estate. But Sowore, in a strongly worded reaction, described the incident as more than just a tragedy — calling it “a symptom of an institution that has lost its way, its fangs, and its moral compass.”
According to Sowore, the EFCC has deviated from its founding mandate and has now become “a caricature of itself.” He accused the agency of targeting the wrong people while shielding the real perpetrators of grand corruption. “Instead of pursuing the real criminals — the politically exposed looters and architects of grand corruption — the EFCC now preys on easy targets: the so-called Yahoo Boys, young men and women whose alleged crimes pale in comparison to the billions stolen by those in power,” Sowore said.
The activist lamented that Udeke’s death represents the growing misuse of power and the erosion of justice within the anti-graft commission. “This tragic inversion of justice has made the EFCC a tool of oppression rather than a vehicle for accountability,” he stated.
Sowore drew parallels between this latest incident and previous EFCC operations that ended in tragedy, including a raid in Enugu where both civilians and an EFCC officer lost their lives. He argued that the agency’s culture of impunity and lack of transparency continue to cost innocent lives.
“The EFCC must be reminded that fighting corruption does not mean killing citizens,” Sowore declared, calling for an internal overhaul of the agency. “The EFCC must cleanse itself of rot, rediscover its purpose, and begin to hold the actual economic criminals — powerful, protected, and privileged — accountable.”
He concluded that until the EFCC reforms and redirects its focus, every avoidable death like that of Endurance Udeke “will stand as a shameful indictment of an agency that has become part of the very corruption it was created to fight.”
📰 Stone Reporter News
🌍 stonereportersnews.com | ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments