The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 to strengthen the agency’s autonomy and reduce political interference in its operations.
The bill, sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi (APC–Plateau), was debated and adopted during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Gagdi said the proposed amendment aims to modernise the EFCC’s legal framework to reflect global best practices and equip the agency to tackle emerging forms of economic and financial crimes, including cybercrime, cryptocurrency manipulation, terrorism financing, and real estate-based money laundering.
He argued that the existing Act leaves the Commission vulnerable to political influence, as the President currently has the sole authority to remove the EFCC Chairman without legislative approval.
“The EFCC operates under outdated provisions that do not adequately address the new realities,” Gagdi said. “This amendment seeks to make the Commission independent, professional, and transparent.”
One of the key proposals would require a two-thirds majority approval of both the Senate and House of Representatives before any EFCC Chairman can be removed from office—curtailing the President’s unilateral power under Section 3(2) of the current Act.
Gagdi said the change would “restore public confidence in the EFCC” and “strengthen Nigeria’s global anti-corruption reputation.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Onwusibe (LP–Abia), described the initiative as long overdue, stressing that many modern financial crimes are not covered by the 2004 law.
The bill was unanimously passed for second reading and referred to the relevant committee for further legislative work.
