A Nigerian Lawyer has expressed dissatisfaction in a statement by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu about the judiciary.
On Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Mr Emeka Etiaba said: “I think the Chairman of the EFCC is not getting it correctly”. He described the EFCC’s claims that lawyers collect corruption-tainted briefs from persons accused of corruption as misplaced.
“A situation where judges are branded as enemies of fight against corruption should not be accepted by any right thinking persons,” the lawyer stated.
Mr Magu had passed a damning verdict on members of the inner bar, as he accused prominent lawyers of frustrating the ongoing war against corruption in Nigeria.
According to Mr Magu, 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.
Corruption Tainted Cases
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said: “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 explained.
Giving his opinion about the impression of the EFCC Chairman as regards the statement, the lawyer said that “corruption-tainted 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 maintained.
Mr Etiaba, however, commended the EFFC in its mode 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 pointed out.
