Magu says comment not meant to disparage judiciary
(Nigeria) The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu has reassured lawyers and judges in
the country that comments attributed to him in recent media reports regarding
the conduct of judicial officials, was not intended at impugning their
integrity.
According to him, his comments, and activities of the commission,
should not be interpreted to mean a blanket indictment of all lawyers and
judges but, rather directed at a few bad eggs within the system.
“There is no way one can make a blanket statement on the
integrity of lawyers and judges. Nigeria is blessed with some of the best
lawyers and judges on the African continent. My worry is that the bad ones
amongst them are giving the good ones a bad name,” he said.
He emphasized that the Commission deeply appreciates the
support of most conscientious, upright and patriotic members of the bar and
bench (including defence counsels), leading to the Commission's unbeaten
prosecution and conviction record.
Magu stated further that, mindful of the fact that judges
are constrained from publicly responding to criticism against them, the Commission
only employs legal and administrative procedures, including investigation of
errant judicial officers and laying complaints against them before the National
Judicial Council, NJC.
In the same vein, the Commission has charged to court and
secured convictions against a number of lawyers.
The EFCC boss invited all patriotic members of the bar and
the bench to join the renewed campaign against corruption and money laundering,
while exposing the corrupt among them.
"There is no blanket condemnation of lawyers and
judges", he reiterated, "But, the corrupt few will not be spared,"
he said.
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