Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has expressed concerns about corruption cases being lost to technicalities in courts, stressing that such a development may serve as a disincentive to the fight against economic and financial crimes.

Bawa stated this on Monday, May 23, 2022, in Abuja while giving his opening remark at the three-day capacity building workshop of the EFCC, themed ‘Judicial Dynamism: A Key Factor in the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes,’ organised for judicial officers, corruption investigators and prosecutors.

According to him, corruption cases being lost on technical grounds have a way of building confidence in corrupt elements and also negatively affect the image of the judiciary.

He said, “As a commission, we do not expect every judicial decision to go our way, but there are instances where the EFCC and many Nigerians have been left at a loss about certain judicial decisions, where defendants who obviously have stolen our commonwealth and those who have aided and abetted them have been allowed to go home to enjoy their proceeds of crime on technical grounds.

“This has the tendency to negatively affect the cherished image of and confidence in the Nigerian judiciary both locally and internationally.

“In the Commission, we hold the view that corruption is a plague that does not select its victims.

“Those stealing and abusing our common patrimony do not wish us well. Judges are as much victims of corruption as the ordinary man on the streets.

“It is therefore in our collective interest that the gains of the fight against corruption are not reversed. This is also why we must aggregate fresh opinions and forge deliberate winning tactics and strategies to stem its ugly tide.”

Bawa also commended the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtrd) for signing into law the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management, Act, 2022, while expressing optimism that the new laws would serve as significant legal instruments that would further strengthen and deepen the anti-corruption war.

He said, “On the issue of corruption cases being lost on technical ground, President Muhammadu Buhari said that it is an issue generating concern among Nigerians.

The event also had the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Chief Judge of the Federation, Tanko Muhammad; and other top government officials in attendance.

Adonis86:
Oga go read law, you no gree. Why una no go dey lose case for technicality ground.

You're always too forward and exuberant to fight corruption, thereby spoilt some cases, because you always think that you and the judiciary represent the government, hence must win in every matter.

oyeb15:
Incompetent fellow

Warlord12:

https://punchng.com/efcc-boss-laments-corruption-cases-lost-to-technical-grounds/

oyeb15:
Media trials, incompetent leadership in Efcc,corruption,nepotism, tribalism won't allow EFCC achieve anything.

You don't appoint a gentle man to lead this type of commission but a fighter, revolutionary, someone who is out for revenge, some whom corruption has hurt his progress in life.

shehuolayinka:
A Nigerian Academic based in the United States, Professor Farooq Kperogi has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari personally gave the order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to withdraw a corruption case against former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje.

It would be recalled that Goje is being investigated by the EFCC over alleged N25 billion fraud.

The unexpected withdrawal of EFCC came a day after Goje stepped down for Senator Ahmed Lawan in the race for the Senate Presidency.

SaharaReporters reported in an exclusive that Goje stepped down in an exchange that the charges of financial impropriety leveled against him by the EFCC be dropped on orders of President Buhari.

The President, who is leading a so-called ‘war against corruption’, struck the deal to enable the attorney- general of the federation take over the case in order to stall it and ultimately quash it.

Read more: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/06/08/buhari-personally-gave-the-order-that-efcc-case-against-goje-be-withdrawn/

Boolpo:
Naija is a failed country

MrMcJay:
What is the recruitment process into the Efcc like? Let's start from there. Employment based on tribalism, favouritism and nepotism will always breed this kind of result.

Eriggs:
Ogun kill everyone ever Politicians that stole from.our coffer

Princeakolan:
The problem is not only about the judiciary but also the commission. At times the commission is used as a tool to witch hunt opposition.