As Nigeria intensifies its anti-corruption campaign, public affairs analyst Dr. Ephriam Attah has cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against allowing media narratives or public opinion to shape criminal prosecutions, insisting that only painstaking investigations backed by credible evidence can secure justice and strengthen public confidence in the rule of law.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Attah said the success of the anti-graft war should be measured not by high-profile arrests or sensational allegations, but by convictions secured through solid evidence capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny.
He argued that corruption cases built on weak investigations risk collapsing in court, eroding confidence in anti-corruption institutions and unfairly damaging the reputations of those accused.
“The fight against corruption is necessary, but it must always be anchored on facts, due process and the rule of law. Media narratives cannot replace evidence before a competent court,” he said.
Attah said recent reports on legal proceedings involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom reinforce the need for Nigerian investigators to prioritise meticulous fact-finding before filing criminal charges.
According to him, allegations, regardless of how widely circulated, should never substitute for proof established before a competent court.
He also raised concerns about the long-term reputational consequences faced by individuals associated with corruption investigations, noting that public perception often outlives judicial outcomes.
Citing former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts), Bernard Otti, Attah said public officials frequently remain under suspicion long after allegations emerge, even when legal processes have not established culpability.
He stressed that his intervention was not a defence of any individual but a call for stronger investigative standards that uphold fairness while preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions.
Turning to the country’s economic reform programme, Attah urged the Federal Government to harness the expertise of retired public finance professionals whose institutional knowledge could strengthen policy implementation.
He said experienced technocrats such as Otti possess decades of practical knowledge in budget administration, revenue reconciliation, financial reporting, audit compliance and internal control systems that could prove invaluable as the government pursues fiscal reforms.
“People like Bernard Otti understand how government financial systems work from the inside. Their experience can help bridge implementation gaps and improve the effectiveness of reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability,” he said.
Attah lamented the steady erosion of institutional memory within public institutions, attributing it to frequent leadership changes and the absence of a structured framework for retaining experienced professionals after retirement.
He advocated the creation of advisory councils and fiscal governance panels to preserve technical expertise, mentor emerging leaders and ensure continuity in the implementation of critical reforms.
According to him, lasting economic transformation will depend not only on ambitious policies but also on institutions equipped with the experience, competence and institutional memory required to sustain them.