The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured 4,111 convictions across its zonal directorates in 2024.
The anti-graft agency, in a report released on Thursday, noted that the convictions were part of its determination to rid the country of corrupt practices.
WikkiTimes analysis of the report reveals that 1,266 convictions were recorded in zonal offices across Northern Nigeria. The EFCC zonal offices in the North are situated in Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Gombe, Kaduna, Ilorin, and Makurdi.
The report also disclosed that the Kaduna zonal office tops the conviction in the North with 237, while Maiduguri recorded the lowest with 95.
Southern Zones
Compared with the south, Lagos office alone secured 685 convictions, followed by Enugu with 516 and Ibadan with 501. The EFCC Headquarters in Abuja recorded 290 prosecutions during the period.
The number of EFCC prosecutions in the zonal office reflects the strength and visibility of anti-corruption efforts there. High prosecution figures may indicate effective enforcement and public engagement.
Conversely, financial analysts have emphasised that low prosecution numbers do not necessarily mean less corruption. Instead, they may point to under-reporting, weak investigative capacity, limited public awareness, or even political interference.
North-South Divide
In many parts of Northern Nigeria, insecurity and poor access also hinder EFCC operations, reducing the number of cases pursued, hence risking an increase in impunity and worsening governance failures.
In addition, several dynamics help explain this divide. Economically, the South houses Nigeria’s major commercial and financial centres such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan. These urban hubs generate more formal financial transactions, making fraud and economic crimes easier to trace.
Furthermore, southern zones have emerged as hotspots for cybercrime – commonly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo” – particularly among the youth. This trend has led to a surge in arrests and subsequent convictions by EFCC operatives working closely with the judiciary.
 has revealed that it secured 4,111 convictions across its zonal directorates in 2024. ){kind=link}