The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified investigations into several high-profile ministers and presidential aides who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, following allegations of multi-billion-naira financial improprieties linked to the previous administration.
Sources within the anti-graft agency say a number of former ministers and top aides have been placed under renewed scrutiny as the commission revisits long-standing petitions and intelligence reports involving alleged financial misconduct on a massive scale.
According to EFCC insiders, some of the former officials on the agency’s watch list are suspected to have left the country in recent weeks, reportedly to evade questioning and possible prosecution. The development has heightened tensions within political and legal circles, as investigators move to activate international cooperation mechanisms to track fleeing suspects, where necessary.
Among those reportedly under investigation are former Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, and former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Both figures were key power centres during the Buhari administration and played critical roles in fiscal management and legal oversight throughout the eight-year tenure.
While no formal charges have yet been announced, multiple sources confirm that both former ministers have been mentioned in connection with several high-value cases currently being reviewed by the EFCC. The allegations, officials stress, remain under investigation and have not been tested in court.
In a dramatic twist, insiders disclosed that discussions around plea bargains may already be underway involving some former presidential aides and ministers. These talks, according to the sources, are linked to the recovery of allegedly misappropriated funds running into enormous sums.
Unconfirmed reports circulating within enforcement circles claim that refunds connected to plea negotiations could total as much as $21 billion, though the EFCC has yet to officially confirm the figure or the identities of those involved. Analysts note that if verified, such recoveries would rank among the largest asset recovery efforts in Nigeria’s anti-corruption history.
The EFCC has maintained its official silence, but officials reiterate that the commission is committed to pursuing all allegations without fear or favour, regardless of political status or past influence.
As investigations deepen, the unfolding probe is expected to test Nigeria’s renewed anti-corruption drive and signal whether the post-Buhari era will usher in a more aggressive accountability framework for former public office holders.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the powerful figures of yesterday—as the EFCC sharpens its claws for what could become one of the most consequential corruption crackdowns in recent times.
 has intensified investigations into several high-profile ministers and presidential aides who served under former President Muhammadu){kind=link}