EFCC Boss Blasts Lawyers For Supporting Mega Financial Fraud
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has taken a swipe at lawyers, insisting that they are culpable and guilty of actively supporting mega financial fraud in the country.
According to Olukoyede, no massive fiscal scam, especially illicit financial flows, is possible without the active connivance and support of members of the bar
The anti-corruption agency chairman, who spoke at the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference in Abuja, with the theme; “Optimising the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: How to Navigate Emerging and Systemic Challenges of Insecurity and Economic Hardship”, said lawyers aid the transfer of huge funds into offshore accounts, preferably in tax havens.
He stated thus; “The most traumatic discovery of the EFCC in recent years was the subjugation of national interest and wellbeing to personal interest by lawyers who aided briefcase foreign investors to fleece the nation in dubious transactions”, adding that; “The P&ID scam, the Mambilla Power Project and Sunrise issues are cases in point”.
Olukoyede said despite the EFCC having had cause to prosecute judicial officers and senior lawyers and earned conviction, his respect for the bench and senior members of the bar remained undiminished, noting; “However, based on the unique experiences of the EFCC in the prosecution of corruption cases, I am particularly interested in systemic reforms in our justice delivery system that capture: The process for the discipline and regulation of judicial officers. The regulation and discipline of legal practitioners. Ethics, values, and standards of legal practice.
“These are essential to me because the job of EFCC is to ensure that the corrupt do not find space in our national life. And when they do, to make them pay for their deeds”.
He charged the judiciary “to address the issue of obscene legal fees senior lawyers earn from political office holders, particularly how they collect such fees which clearly conflicts with existing statutes”, stressing that; “If a lawyer would not care about the source from which a sitting governor or any other public servant pays him millions of Naira to defend him in an electoral tribunal, the lawyer must necessarily be mindful of the fact that the only proper way to collect such humongous amounts is through the financial system.
“Aside from violating money laundering regulations, hauling millions of naira of professional fees from public office holders in liquid cash as senior lawyers do is only aimed at tax evasion. It is needless to stress that the best act of mentoring from leaders of the bar to the younger generation of lawyers is by living out the ethical demands of the profession”
Also speaking at the opening of the 5-day conference, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) noted that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where insecurity and economic adversity present profound challenges to the rule of law and the administration of justice.
For him; “These challenges demand innovative, practical, and collaborative approaches to ensure that our justice system remains robust, fair, and effective” assuring that; “The Federal Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to reforming and strengthening our criminal justice system”.
The Justice Minister, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abubakar Baba-Doko, further stated that the government is taking decisive steps to address the root causes of crime, improve law enforcement capabilities, and enhance the efficiency of the courts.
The Senior Lawyer also stressed the need to strengthen institutions and legal frameworks; leverage technology and innovation; and foster collaboration and build public trust.
In his remarks, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice B.B. Kanyip, said the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, is unmistakably significant legislation in enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in the justice delivery system in Nigeria.
Represented by Justice Olufunke Anuwe at the occasion, the NICN President said the ACJA is helping to expedite criminal trials, decongestion of the correctional centres, and the protecting of the rights and interests of marginalised persons.
However, he said it was unfortunate that insecurity and economic hardship are currently posing a serious threat to the implementation of the provision of the Act in the country.
