The Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, has called on the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to refocus on Nigeria’s most urgent corruption cases and end what it described as the “needless harassment” of two social media activists, Randy Peter and Mama Pee.
In a statement issued Thursday, POMR said it has monitored with concern the repeated summoning, interrogation, and detention of online commentators and political activists over issues that do not rise to the level of strategic national threats.
“As Nigerians, we watch the trajectory of our country with a mixture of hope and anxiety. At the heart of our collective struggle for a prosperous nation is the fight against systemic corruption — a cancer that continues to devalue our currency, cripple public infrastructure, and limit the potential of millions,” the statement said.
“In this struggle, the EFCC remains a crucial pillar. It is precisely because the EFCC’s success is so vital to Nigeria’s survival that we must raise this constructive concern.”
—Misplaced priorities undermine public trust—
POMR noted a growing trend in recent years where the EFCC commits significant time, personnel, and resources to policing digital discourse, rather than dismantling large-scale financial crimes.
According to the group, this approach creates three major setbacks:
1. Diversion of resources: Every hour spent investigating viral posts or interrogating outspoken critics is an hour taken away from tracing multi-billion naira networks of institutional graft, oil theft, and public fund diversion.
2. Erosion of public trust: The EFCC’s greatest asset is the goodwill of Nigerians. When the agency is perceived as a tool for stifling dissent or managing political scores, citizens become less willing to whistle-blow or support anti-graft initiatives.
3. Minimal national impact: Chasing low-hanging fruit on social media may dominate headlines, but it does little to repair refineries, secure borders, or restore investor confidence.
—Where the real battle lies—
The statement urged the Commission to redirect its forensic, legal, and investigative assets toward high-profile financial crimes, public sector embezzlement, and systemic economic sabotage — issues directly fueling inflation, poverty, and insecurity.
“Nigeria is currently navigating severe economic headwinds. We are grappling with the fallout of massive, institutionalised financial leakages. This is where the EFCC’s true battlefield lies,” POMR stated.
The group stressed that while the rule of law must apply to all, the EFCC must not become the default arbiter for political or social disputes.
POMR concluded: “We respectfully call on the leadership of the EFCC to face strategic priorities. A corruption-free Nigeria is possible.”
