An Appraisal of Anti-Corruption Laws and Their Enforcement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Enugu State, South East Nigeria

Corruption remains one of the most destructive forces undermining public administration, economic development, and the rule of law in Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, established by the EFCC Act 2004, serves as Nigeria's principal anti-corruption agency with broad investigatory and prosecutorial powers. However, the effectiveness of EFCC enforcement at the state level, particularly in South East states such as Enugu, has attracted scholarly attention given concerns about prosecutorial selectivity and political interference. This study appraises the anti-corruption legal framework and EFCC enforcement activity in Enugu State from 2015 to 2023. A doctrinal and empirical methodology is adopted, reviewing the EFCC Act, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, EFCC annual reports, and judicial decisions from the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu. The study examines patterns of prosecution, conviction rates, and asset recovery outcomes. Available anti-corruption law literature from South East Nigeria identifies insufficient evidence preservation, witness intimidation, and politically motivated prosecution decisions as the dominant enforcement challenges. The Rule of Law and Institutional Accountability Framework provides the analytical reference. Findings indicate that conviction rates in Enugu remain below the national EFCC average, with recommendations directed at prosecutorial independence, evidence management, and community anti-corruption awareness programmes. Keywords: anti-corruption law, EFCC, Enugu State, prosecution, South East Nigeria.