EFCC Act is re-enacted and strengthened

In 2004, the Nigerian National Assembly passed a new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act, replacing the original 2002 legislation. President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the strengthened law, which expanded the commission's powers and addressed constitutional challenges that had weakened the original act. The new legislation gave the EFCC broader investigative authority and clearer legal standing to prosecute financial crimes across Nigeria.

The re-enactment became necessary after legal experts and courts identified significant weaknesses in the 2002 act that limited the EFCC's effectiveness. The original legislation faced constitutional challenges regarding the commission's jurisdiction and powers, particularly in prosecuting money laundering and advance fee fraud cases. Nigeria was also under international pressure to strengthen its anti-corruption framework to combat the country's reputation as a hub for financial crimes, especially the notorious '419' advance fee fraud schemes that had damaged Nigeria's global image.