For the umpteenth time, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has charged defence counsels in the commission’s cases to be guided by the ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties to their clients.
Olukoyede gave the charge last week through the Ibadan Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Hauwa Garba Ringim, when the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan Branch, led by its chairman, Ibrahim Lawal paid her a courtesy visit.
“It is disheartening how a reasonable number of lawyers come into EFCC premises and begin to display unprofessionalism; trying to interfere in investigation activities and pushing to get things done their own way, outside the standard operating procedure of the EFCC.
“Why would a lawyer walk into the EFCC office to see his client and tell the investigating officer that he or she ought to have concluded investigation on his or her client, and that if the officer does not conclude investigation within his stipulated time he will frustrate the efforts of the investigating officer? This is appalling,” he said.
While emphasising the need for consistent stakeholders’ engagement between the Bar and EFCC towards effective service delivery, Olukoyede further frowned on the situation in which lawyers now roam EFCC premises, “hunting for clients without considering the decency of their profession.”
The EFCC boss, however, assured lawyers in the country of the Commission’s collaboration, noting that it is critical in the law enforcement activities of the commission.
In his response, Lawal thanked Ringim for the warm reception accorded the delegation, stressing that for greater successes to be achieved in the fight against corruption, there must be an effective collaboration between the EFCC and the Bar.
The Ibadan NBA chair who condemned touting by lawyers disclosed that his branch has set up an “Anti-touting Committee,” saddled with the responsibility of investigating and sanctioning lawyers who deviated from professional ethics.
While taking side with the commission on not permitting lawyers to stand as sureties in any EFCC’s case, he maintained that doing so was “reprehensible and unacceptable to the Bar.” He, however, requested for official and effective line of communication between the EFCC and the Bar for adequate sharing of information and for addressing enquiries by lawyers.
It is instructive that Olukoyede had on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 during the 64th Annual General Conference of the NBA in Lagos,charged lawyers to stop indulging in activities that encourage and embolden crime suspects to evade justice.
The EFCC chairman stated that lawyers must bring financial crimes suspects to court and not assist them to evade justice. “Don’t try to protect suspected criminals, people who must have committed financial crimes. So, if you know where, who or whatever we are looking for, it is your duty to bring that person to the open and we will do our part.”
Speaking on the challenges of delayed prosecutions, Olukoyede noted that the EFCC will ensure that cases are prosecuted no matter how long it takes, with strict adherence to the law. He said his responsibility and mandate is to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, noting that it’s one of the top priorities of the commission.
Olukoyede, however, urged lawyers to perform their civic responsibilities as Nigerians and highlighted the importance of mutual respect between lawyers and the EFCC.
He said: “We are all Nigerians before becoming lawyers and you must perform. Being a lawyer does not exempt you from your civic responsibilities, comply and do the right thing. Under my watch, everyone that comes to the EFCC will be treated with dignity, regardless of the circumstances.”
While he urged the National Assembly to enact laws that further support the whistle-blower policy of the federal government, he noted that once the law is enacted, it will make it mandatory for law enforcement agencies to protect the whistle-blowers.
In his remarks, the NBA president, Mr Yakubu Maikyau, called for more collaboration with the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to fight corruption.
Quite impressively, Olukoyede, who assumed office on Thursday, October 19, 2023 with clear-cut agenda of re-positioning and re-focusing the EFCC for optimal effectiveness, is not only walking his talk but also taking the anti-graft agency to enviable heights.
Since coming to office nearly a year ago, the executive chairman of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency has, without a doubt, sent clear signals to corrupt public officials that, under his watch, the EFCC will do less barking and more biting.
However, it does appear that lawyers are posing an obstacle to the successful delivery of the mandate given to Olukoyede by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes that had over the decades stunted the nation’s socio-economic and political development.
While urging the anti-graft czar not to rest on his oars in achieving zero-corruption in the country, Blueprint appeals to lawyers to desist from their unethical conduct. Lawyers, who are supposed to be ministers in the temple of justice, should not be seen to undermine the rule of or pervert the course of justice. The practice by lawyers in aiding persons being prosecuted for corruption to evade the long arm of the law should not be condoned.