EFCC Invited Him, But He Dined with the President: The Okoya Son, Naira Abuse Scandal, and Nigeria’s Elite Immunity

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In a stunning reflection of Nigeria’s growing reputation for double standards in law enforcement, Raheem Okoya, son of billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, who was invited by the EFCC over a viral Naira abuse scandal, was recently spotted dining with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Aso Rock while the anti-graft agency waited in silence.

On Sallah Day, while millions of Muslim faithfuls across Nigeria marked the holy celebration with prayers and reflection, the Okoya family was in the Presidential Villa, not to answer legal summons but to enjoy a VIP reception, complete with smiles, photographs, and presidential honours.

The event, which has now sparked a viral uproar, saw Raheem Okoya alongside his father and other family members hosted by President Tinubu in a public show of long-standing friendship between the president and patriarch Razaq Okoya. Images from the visit, circulated widely on social media, reignited outrage about the unequal application of justice in Nigeria.

Raheem and his brother, Wahab Okoya, were previously caught on video allegedly abusing the Naira an act that violates Nigerian financial laws. Following public pressure, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released a brief statement on January 11, noting that the Okoya brothers had been invited for questioning. Since then, no official update has followed.

The silence from the EFCC has been particularly deafening, considering its swift and aggressive actions against other Nigerians accused of similar offences.

In contrast to the Okoya family’s presidential reception, popular businessman Emeka Okonkwo (E-Money) was raided at his Lagos home and dragged to EFCC headquarters in Abuja within hours of a similar accusation.

The inconsistency has left many Nigerians wondering: Is justice in Nigeria only for the poor and unconnected?

“This is what it looks like when the law bows before wealth,” said one online commenter. “EFCC invited him, but his father took him to the president instead. What message does that send?”

Critics are also pointing to the EFCC’s pattern of selective enforcement—highlighting how, in the case of militant leader Tompolo’s event where the Naira was again reportedly desecrated, it took weeks of public outrage before the agency even acknowledged the matter.

Even more alarming are EFCC’s own alleged misconducts. From unsanctioned night raids, like the infamous botched operation in Anambra that led to an operative’s death, to illegal detentions, the agency itself is struggling with a crisis of credibility.

This latest development shines a harsh light on Nigeria’s fragile rule of law, where proximity to power seems to override legal process. The fact that the EFCC headquarters sits just a few metres from Aso Rock only adds a layer of irony to the saga: a wanted man, instead of walking into the agency’s office, is welcomed next door as an honoured guest.

“How can justice be served when the law enforcer clinks glasses with the lawbreaker?” another critic asked.

For many Nigerians, this is yet another painful reminder that in the current system, the powerful are not only above the law they are the law.

Until institutions like the EFCC operate with transparency, accountability, and impartiality, justice in Nigeria may remain a theatre where only the poor and voiceless are cast as villains.