Judges, Lawyers, Slowing Efforts In Fight Against Corruption – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared that slow judicial system occasioned by tactics of defence lawyers and interlocutory appeals are the major obstacles militating against efforts of the commission in the fight against corruption.

Deputy Head of Ibadan Zonal office of EFCC, Mr. Kazeem Oseni made this declaration Monday at the 13th Biennial Conference of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA), Ibadan chapter themed “Fight Against Corruption: Where are the religious leaders and institutions?

Oseni who spoke on the topic “Corruption in Nigeria: An overview and the efforts of the EFCC in fighting the scourge” maintained that though concerted efforts have been made to rid the country out of corruption since the establishment of the commission, the enabling and operating environment in Nigeria are not encouraging to realize the objectives of the commission.

He said “Quite frankly, the enabling and operating environment in Nigeria vis-a-vis anti-corruption war, has not been very encouraging.

“Issues such as legal technicalities, lack of cooperation from some states and local governments, public attitude towards corruption, the phenomenon of corruption mentality in Nigeria; as well as slow judicial system occasioned by tactics of defence lawyers and interlocutory appeals, seriously undermine the commission’s efforts in taming corruption”, he said.

Oseni who however stated that  contrary to insinuations that the commission has not live up to its expectations, informed that the commission was only working hard to ensure that cases are prosecuted to the logical conclusion saying that most of the cases people may perceived as having died naturally  are still being investigated.

He explained that it will be very difficult for cases in the EFCC to die except it is concluded, saying ‘It is very, very difficult for the EFCC case to die except it is concluded, if you see a case, maybe investigation is still ongoing”.

Oseni while describing corruption as one of the obstacles confronting the progress of the country, said that the commission in its efforts to decongest the Lagos office and expand its scope established the Ibadan office in order to take care of Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and part of Kwara states.

“Now we are in Ibadan, we used to be in Lagos which is taking care of the whole of South West, now Ibadan is taking care of Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and part of Kwara state. Even in Ibadan that is far from the seat of power in Abuja, cases of corruption are recorded on daily basis. In the academic, it encourages mediocrity over meritocrity.

“Those who are corrupt are more that armed robbers, you see armed robbers, you can fight them but these people, you will not know that they have collected your money. They can kill, infact, some of them kill before they get the money.“Since when Ibadan Zonal Office started operation, 3 Vice Chancellors are already in EFCC, you can see that even in the academic, we want to try as much as possible to make sure things does not go beyond that”.

The Nation