By Lillian Okenwa
With over 50 criminal convictions and 100 civil judgments, Jonson Amade Ojogbane, a fellow of the National Institute for Security Studies and a former ace prosecutor of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) insists that there would have been no Nigeria without the EFCC.
A year shy of attaining 60, Ojogbane, the Principal Partner of Signature Law Firm who took an early retirement on 31st May 2024 after 20 years of service at the EFCC told Law & Society Magazine that without EFCC on the scene “there would be no Nigeria.” Speaking at his expansive Abuja office, Ojogbane, recounted the dangers EFCC officials face daily.
One of the riskiest cases I handled where my life was threatened beyond measure was the case of Shekarau the former governor of Kano State. The day we took him for arraignment, the rascals in town besieged the entire court and said we must hand him over to them or they kill all of us. We had to bring a battalion of policemen. They refused to go. They were bent on causing trouble.
We and the judges and other lawyers were stuck inside the court. We were afraid for our lives. The police fired tear gas that affected all of us in the court. That made them leave the court premises but they sat down on the road leading to the court, stretching as far as your eyes can see. They said they’re not going anywhere. We could not drive out. They were not causing trouble again but they were shutting down on the road blocking every possible exit.
We had to make sure Shekarau was released that day. We could not take him anywhere. We had to conclude his bail issue. He was released that evening. When he came out and they saw that he had been released, that was when they got up and we were able to leave.
I filed charges against all the former governors of the northwest, kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina. Every time I go to court, I go with a troop. It’s like I’m going to war because I’m afraid of what will happen. These are politicians and they have followers that can do anything for them. Again, I survived by the grace of God.
Another troublesome case I had was in Awka. Two Revrend Fathers were involved in 419. They collected money from their parishioners that they would give them cement. No cement no money so those parishioners petitioned EFCC. Investigations were completed, and we filed charges against them, it was so riotous. We had to go to the squadron commander for armed support the day we were to arraign them. Some parishioners were on their side, embittered that EFCC took their priests. Some are on the side of those duped.
We got intelligence on the day of their arraignment that people may die. We went to the Squadron Commander of Mopol in Enugu and he gave us a truckload of mobile policemen. I was in the Enugu division then. It was like we were going to war. Once we arrived, they took strategic positions inside and outside the court. Lawyers had to adjourn their cases and leave because the place was like a war zone. One of the Fathers was very cantankerous. He didn’t want to be docked; wanted to stand outside the dock but I stood my ground and the judge was very supportive.
I was transferred out of the Enugu division before the matter was concluded but I think it’s at the Supreme Court now. That was about 10/15 years ago. The senior Rev. Father is a lawyer. He was standing for himself and his colleague. Every day we were in court, the parishioners would come to court bitter and angry. The older priest used the younger one as a proxy to collect money from people.
The work was risky. We had to travel overnight for cases in different states. We’ve encountered armed robbers on the road in the night. We usually travel by road.
Despite the many accusations and allegations against the EFCC, particularly that of chasing after smaller criminals and perceived opponents of the government, Mr. Ojogbane called for support for the Commission.
As much as I do not want to act as the spokesperson of EFCC, I can tell you that without the EFCC when it came on board in 2003, Nigeria would have failed by now. There was no agency like the EFCC. Before that time, everything was done with impunity. People did whatever they wanted. the only organisation that is feared in Nigeria up till tomorrow is EFCC.
People always say the government use EFCC as whipping dogs but the question we should ask is, if the government used them to fight opponents as has been alleged, did the opponent do anything wrong? Did they steal money? Were they corrupt? Were they laundering money? Should they be left because they’re opponents of the government?
I rose from the middle of EFFCC to the top and my experience has been that EFCC is one of the fairest organisations in Nigeria. We have problems no doubt but let’s not forget that many notable Nigerians have been convicted by the EFCC. A lot of Nigerians don’t do their research before they start criticising. Governors have gone to prison and spent time because of our work.
Recently the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of former Bank PHB Boss, Francis Atuche. We prosecuted the case all the way. The High Court gave him 12 years and his partner got 10 years. The Court of Appeal affirmed the decision and reduced their sentence from 12 to 6 and 10 to 8. The Supreme Court has affirmed this decision.
The problem is that EFCC doesn’t even speak of its many successes. Without EFCC as I said before the system would have collapsed by now. Remove EFCC from the scene and there would be no government. There will be nothing left. The system before 2003 was completely compromised beyond description.
I put my own out life there, in the last 20 years, and I can’t regret a single day. Before EFCC came on board, Nigeria was already being backlisted across countries. People did not want to deal with Nigerians but today it has reduced drastically.
It was so bad before that fraudsters could bring foreigners to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and dupe them. They brought Brazilian bankers to CBN and set up the place. Nwude posed as CBN governor inside the CBN building. Nigeria at that was too compromised. EFCC has done a whole lot.
We are not there yet and we’re not perfect but every orgnanisation has that. Corruption can never be eliminated but it can be managed. The difference between other countries and Nigeria is that when they steal, the money does not go out it remains within. Nigerians steal money and it goes out. The way things were within the circumstances of the Nigerian state was terrible.
There’s a lot of pressure on the Commission but it’s not giving up. If we leave things to the police and other agencies, it will collapse over our heads. We must all support the EFCC.
