ISLAMIC ASSESSMENT OF MODES OF INVESTIGATION BY THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) IN NIGERIA

Corruption is a worldwide phenomenon, it is the single most important social problem in Nigeria today. To combat it, the Nigerian government has set up various bodies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Despite this effort, one may observe that new forms of corrupt practices are developed by perpetrators, as evident in daily news media with dismay and continue to grow worse. This shows that the only solution to corruption is to adhere to Allh's laws and avoid corruption in its totality. Corruption is perhaps, the only reason why nothing seems to be working correctly in the country. It is given the gravity of corruption that this paper assesses the modes of investigation of corrupt officials by EFCC (an anti-graft agency saddled with the responsibility of investigating financial and economic criminals for onward prosecution of such offenders in a court of justice) from an Islamic perspective. This paper assesses the modes of concordance of the laws/procedures of EFCC with that of Islam in the war against corruption. The methodology used is the survey method where data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The paper discovered that the procedures of operation in EFCC differ from Islam; however, there are some of the laws of the Commission that conform to Islamic Law. The paper, recommends the application of spiritual, economic, social and political strategies through justice and fair play for the eradication of corruption in the country. Also, the anti-graft agencies should undertake a serious and thorough investigation before arraigning an accused person to court. They should also operate on a neutral ground based on uprightness, total commitment, and a sense of responsibility if the desired goal is to be achieved.