Falana to EFCC: Extend the dragnet to National Assembly

Human right lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has said that the latest war against corruption in the country by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), would not stop at the arrest and prosecution of former governors who are without political relevant at the moment but that it would be extended to their colleagues who are currently lawmakers in the 8th National Assembly.

Falana, who made the remarks in an interview with BD SUNDAY, said the current momentum in the fight against corruption in the new dispensation has come to stay under President Muhammadu Buhari, and urged Nigerians to give the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) maximum support.

“The current efforts of the EFCC will definitely get to the National Assembly. Whoever committed financial crime that is at the moment hiding at the NASS would soon discover that it is no longer business as usual.

“I think the EFCC is investigating and collating information on pass misdeeds of former governors who are politically relevant now and those who are not. Nigerians are only seeing an EFCC who is enjoying its work under leadership that is giving it autonomous to do its work. The fight against corruption can only get better now,” he said.

Meanwhile, another Nigerian lawyer, critic, and human right activist, Festus Keyamo, has attributed the current EFCC’s manhunt for former governors to the non-interference leadership regime of President Buhari.

“All I can say concerning the latest efforts of the EFCC is the presence of a leader who allows people to do their job without interfering”, he told BD SUNDAY.

Only last week, a federal high court had ordered Sule Lamido, a former Jigawa State governor, and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, accused of fraud, to be remanded in prison custody in Kano till September 28. The former governor was arraigned last Thursday alongside his children for receiving N1.35 billion kickbacks from a government contractor.

Ikedi Ohakim, former Imo State governor was also arraigned last week in Abuja before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on a three-count charge of money laundering involving $2.29 million. He was however, granted bail by Justice Ademola.

 

NATHANIEL AKHIGBE