– EFCC boss accuses layers of impeding anti-corruption war
– Emeka Etiaba (SAN) says EFCC chairman did not get it correctly
– The SAN gave recommendations to EFCC
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is currently under fire over the statement he made against the country’s judiciary.
EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu accused lawyers of impeding anti-corruption fight.
Leadership reported on February 10, that Magu accused prominent members of the inner bar as the stumbling block in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country. He let the cat out of the bag during a visit from the national executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The EFCC boss disclosed that it was prominent lawyers that assist persons that commit crimes with the necessary technical knowledge of how to evade justice as well as how to safely keep their booty.
“These prominent members of the bar collect corruption-tainted briefs, then aid and abet those who commit crimes by furnishing them with technical knowledge of how to escape the long arms of the law, as well as how to hide the loot they had stolen,” Magu said.
Reacting to the anti-graft chairman’s assertion on February 12, a renowned lawyer took a swipe at the commission as well as proffers solution.
Speaking on a programme on Channel Television, Sunrise Daily, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), expressed dissatisfaction in the statement credited to Magu about the judiciary.
He said the EFCC chairman did not get it correctly, adding that raising eyebrow over lawyers collecting corruption related cases from persons accused of corruption is misplaced.
“A situation where judges are branded as enemies of fight against corruption should not be accepted by any right thinking persons.
“I think that issue of judiciary not being responsive, is not correct because this country is ruled by set of laws and every trial that must go, should be within the purview of the law.
“If the acting Chairman of the EFCC believes that senior lawyers are making prosecution of corruption cases difficult, there are senior lawyers, who are available to join the prosecution team. They have even manifested the intention and they should be employed by the EFCC to join the team of prosecution.
“Probably if that is done, there would be a more fair playing ground and nobody would complain that any suspect has employed the services of a senior council,” he said.
The senior advocate of Nigerian corrected the opinion of the EFCC boss, saying all corruption related cases do not automatically amount to guilt.
“Let the lawyers, who conduct corruption cases, not be seen as being against the fight against corruption,” he said.
Mr Etiaba, however, applauded the anti-graft agency for its new method of investigation.
“I will also commend the EFCC because I noticed that within these few days, their style of investigation has changed a little bit. The EFCC used to be physical in its investigation, but now, it is a bit more intellectual,” he said.
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