Islamic Appraisal of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission’s Modes of Identifying Suspects

Corruption had certainly emerged as one of the main impediments to development in contemporary Nigeria. Although corruption is a worldwide phenomenon, it is the single most devastating national disaster in Nigeria today. In order to combat corruption Nigerian government has set up various bodies, including the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). In the recent past, the stolen monies which were hidden in foreign bank accounts were more than Nigeria's budget for seven years and allegedly looted by past corrupt Government officials. It is a monster that all and sundry blame for the economic woes facing the country. It is perhaps, the only reason why nothing seems to be working correctly in the country. It is in view of the gravity of this cankerworm called corruption particularly economic and financial corruption in Nigeria that this study examines the position of Islamic Law especially as it relates to the procedures of activities of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as an anti-graft agency saddled with the responsibility of fishing out financial and economic criminals for onward prosecution of such offenders by the court law. This paper examines the concordance or otherwise of the laws/procedures of EFCC with that of Islamic in the war against corruption. The researcher used survey design method where data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The paper discoveres that the procedures of operation in EFCC differs from Islam, however there are some of the laws of the commission at concord with Islamic Law. The paper, recommends application of spiritual, economic, social and political strategies through Tazkiyatun -Nafs (self purification) for the eradication of corruption in the country. Also, the anti-graft agencies should be allowed to operate on a neutral ground based on uprightness, total commitment, and a sense of responsibility, if the desired expectation is to be achieved.