Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of being used by Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and other political figures to persecute him for not joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The EFCC has denied these claims.
The anti-graft agency’s reaction comes after Bauchi State Finance Commissioner Yakubu Adamu and three others were arraigned on December 31, 2025, on charges of money laundering and terrorism financing using $9.7 million in state monies purportedly authorized by the governor.
The EFCC insisted that it functions independently and without political influence, calling Mohammed’s charges “wild” and “far-fetched” in a statement released on Friday.
The statement warned that depicting the EFCC as a political tool was “mischievous and condemnable,” adding that “the Commission is non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.”
Suggestions that Wike or any other political office holder may sway its investigations were rejected by the anti-graft agency, which called them “derogatory” and deceptive.
The EFCC further noted that Mohammed had been charged with money laundering before to being elected governor, and that the only thing holding up that prosecution was constitutional immunity.
It questioned, “Who persuaded the Commission to look into and prosecute him in 2016?”
The EFCC claims that the evidence against certain Bauchi State officials is already in front of the court, allowing Nigerians to determine for themselves whether the case is motivated by “painstaking investigation” or retaliation.
It further stated that Mohammed was the approving authority for the transactions in question, which is why his name appears in the allegation.
The agency emphasized that it is obligated to enforce current laws wherever violations occur and cautioned against trivializing accusations of financing terrorism.
The statement noted that the EFCC recently arraigned a senior member of the ruling party without similar protests. “It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to cry persecution whenever one of their own is investigated, yet remain silent when members of the ruling party are charged,” the statement said.
The Commission urged Governor Mohammed to let Bauchi State fulfill its goal of cleaning up Nigeria’s financial system and to concentrate on managing the state.
