AGF Fagbemi Urges Speedy Dispensation of Justice on Financial Crimes
The attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi has urged members of the Judiciary across the country have been charged to ensure speedy dispensation of justice on any financial crimes and corruption cases.
Fagbemi made the submission on Monday in Abuja at a meeting organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation for State Attorneys-General.
The meeting with the theme, ”building a unified front against corruption in Nigeria” had 33 State Attorneys General in attendance to proffer solutions to menace of Corruption at all levels of governance.
Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Victoria Ojogbene, a director in the ministry, maintained that to win the war against Corruption, people at the grassroots must be carried along by Anti-Corruption Bodies without favoritism and sentiment.
Fagbemi has said those found guilty of corruption should not enjoy state pardon.
He also counselled law enforcement agencies against shoddy investigations, urging them to have their facts before summoning anyone for questioning.
The minister said the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the AGs, was crucial in the fight against corruption.
Fagbemi advised the AGs to eschew nepotism, political witch-hunting, rivalry, and bigotry in the fight against corruption just because they want to please their governors.
He also said there should be no basis for rationalising corruption or crimes.
He said their legal opinions on cases must be based on the facts practised in the advanced countries, adding, “We should not give in to public sentiments. In Nigeria, we are polarised along political lines.”
The AGF advised participants and anti-graft agencies to conduct thorough investigations of cases before arresting suspects to avoid media trials.
“Let us be thorough and take our time before inviting someone for questioning. Please don’t do a shoddy job and quickly say we have caught a big fish. You will catch a big fish. If it is two or three big fish you can get in a year, and you are thorough, it is alright,” he added.
The AGF also counselled against filing bogus counts of charges against defendants just to generate frenzy in the public against the suspect.
“Nobody wants a 50-count charge. Make it five or six, and be sure. Make sure you get him (suspect) in,” he said.
The Chairman, Body of state Attorney Generals, Dr. Ben Odo said corruption remained a major cankerworm that had eaten deep the resources meant for development of the nation, hence the need for effective collaboration among the State Attorney Generals to combat corruption.
A former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Kanu Agabi who was a Keynote Speaker at the event, believed that lack of constructive criticism by oppositions had given room to some factors affecting the development of the country.
He urged the state Attorney Generals to discharge their duties without fear of favoritism especially, whenever any Governor act contrary against the law.
Also, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Commission, ICPC, Dr Musa Aliyu explained that the Commission had collaborated with the State Attorney Generals to ensure Justice and Transparency with a view to execute public projects and achieve good governance at all levels.
The ICPC Chairman reiterated the determination of the Commission to promote policies aim at preventing corruption at all levels of governance.
On his part, the chairman of the Senate committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes, Sen. Udende Emmanuel, stated that corruption required a comprehensive and multifaceted approach, involving every segment of society.
