HURILAWS supports review of EFCC prosecutorial powers

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(Nigeria) The Human Rights Law Service, HURILAWS, has applauded the call by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, for a debate on the efficacy of the war against corruption in Nigeria.
HURILAW’s Senior Counsel, Me Olisa Agbakoba SAN and Legal/Programme Officer, Collins Okeke in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, said  “Where corruption is endemic like in Nigeria strong institutions are critical to achieve success. It is in this context that the debate on the propriety of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, investigating and prosecuting financial crimes at the same time is appropriate.
“We support the position of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Our position is supported by international best practice and the need to build the capacity of the EFCC to deliver on its core mandate which is investigation of financial crimes. The international best practice is that one agency investigates, another prosecutes and the court adjudicates.
“The EFCC as currently composed is overworked and will not efficiently deliver on investigation and prosecution.
“Whilst we have no objection with the EFCC investigating or the courts adjudicating, we believe the powers to prosecute should be vested in an independent highly resourced prosecuting agency. We appreciate the enormous work done by the EFCC since its establishment in 2003. 13 years on the Federal Government needs to rejig the EFCC and other crime fighting institutions to perform optimally. We support plan by the Attorney General of the Federation to establish a National Prosecuting Agency,” the statement added.

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