EFCC selective justice allegations surface as former NHIS boss Yusuf Usman claims ethnic bias in arrests by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies

Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Yusuf Usman, on Sunday, 30 March 2026, in Nigeria, alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) engage in selective justice in their enforcement activities, raising fresh concerns over fairness in anti-corruption operations.

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Speaking during an interview on Symfoni’s Naija Unfiltered, Yusuf Usman claimed that the EFCC selective justice allegations reflect perceived bias in arrest patterns, arguing that individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds appear disproportionately targeted by anti-graft agencies.

He alleged that several high-profile figures from a particular ethnic group have faced arrests while suggesting that others have not been subjected to similar scrutiny. His comments, which were framed as personal observations, referenced past and present public figures in discussing enforcement trends.

Yusuf Usman further pointed to the leadership composition of key security and anti-corruption agencies, suggesting that public perception is influenced by the ethnic backgrounds of those heading such institutions, including the EFCC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the ICPC.

The former NHIS boss maintained that his remarks were not intended to assess the guilt or innocence of individuals involved in various cases, but rather to highlight what he described as growing concerns among segments of the public regarding consistency and impartiality in enforcement.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has in the past consistently denied allegations of bias, insisting that its operations are guided strictly by evidence and due process rather than ethnic or political considerations.

Similar positions have been maintained by other anti-corruption bodies, which argue that their mandate remains to uphold the rule of law without fear or favour.

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Usman’s comments are likely to add to ongoing national conversations about trust in institutions, transparency, and the perception of equity in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, particularly at a time when several high-profile investigations and prosecutions continue to attract public attention.