EFCC Responds to Allegations Over Detention of Suspects in Private Debt-Related Disputes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to allegations that some Nigerians were detained for extended periods in connection with disputes involving alleged private debts and commercial transactions. The allegations were contained in a report published by SaharaReporters on September 7, 2026, which cited accounts from individuals who claimed to have spent several weeks in EFCC custody. According to the report, some of those interviewed alleged that their cases involved disputes they considered civil or commercial in nature. The report further claimed that some individuals had allegedly spent between 40 and 72 days in custody. These claims, however, have not been independently verified by FACTFUL MEDIA. Responding to the allegations, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale rejected the suggestion that the commission operates as a debt-recovery agency. Oyewale said the EFCC operates within its statutory mandate and that the individuals referenced in the report were being investigated over alleged economic and financial crimes. He also disputed the reported duration of detention, describing the figures as exaggerated. According to him, suspects who remain in custody beyond the initial statutory period do so pursuant to valid court-issued remand orders. The EFCC spokesperson further explained that some suspects had been granted administrative bail but had not fulfilled the conditions attached to their release. The allegations have nevertheless renewed public discussion about the distinction between criminal financial offences and ordinary civil or commercial disputes, as well as the safeguards surrounding detention during financial-crime investigations. FACTFUL24 has not independently established the allegations made by the individuals quoted in the original report. The publication of the claims is therefore not an assertion by FACTFUL24 that the EFCC unlawfully detained any individual or acted outside its statutory mandate. FACTFUL24 will continue to monitor developments and will update this report if additional verifiable information or official clarification becomes available. Source: SaharaReporters Note: Allegations contained in the original report are attributed to the individuals and sources cited by SaharaReporters. The EFCC's response has also been included for balance.