ABSTRACT
Financial crimes have been seen as one of the leading factors affecting development of the Nigerian state, hence has attracted several efforts towards curbing the challenge. This study focused examining public perception on the fight against financial crimes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The objective of the study was to evaluate the views of the public on the effect of the EFCC’s fight against financial crimes. The methodology adopted for the study was the survey method, and through both questionnaire and interview, the perception of the public was elicited. The structural Functionalist theory was adopted for the study. It was discovered that the people are aware and conversant with the EFCC and its role in the Nigerian society. The study showed that EFCC has become a household name among the Nigerian populace, and this sort of popularity is gained through the media. More so, the study discovered that, the fight against financial crime have been not been very effective; this is to say that, the effectiveness of the EFCC have been limited, the respondents stated that most time the effectiveness of the EFCC largely depend on the political will of the incumbent president. The study recommended that the EFCC needs leadership that commands legitimacy, which will enable them to assert their independence and build the integrity with its rank and file.