Reps call for overhaul of anti-graft agencies, judicial commission

Members of House of Representatives on Thursday called for immediate overhaul of the two anti-graft agencies in a bid to effectively tackle the scourge of corruption in the country.

Mark Igbillah (APC-Benue) and Oghene Egoh (PDP-Lagos) gave the charge during separate interviews in Abuja.

Igbillah who doubles as member of the Adhoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies.

He said “the president can still prevail on the existing institutions, and make the necessary reforms like what is going on in the NNPC, in the judicial commission, the existing courts, in the EFCC, in the ICPC, so that is what I believe should be the focus. Strengthen these institutions to start from a very clean footing where those in the right places are carried along by the same resolve of the President”.

Continuing, he said, “we don’t have to set up a new EFCC, we have all those institutions in place. What Nigeria’s problem has been is not that they don’t have these institutions or laws, we need to refine the law, I agree, but with regards to corruption, we have enough institutions and investigations to prosecute these actions. The EFCC itself should be reorganised, the related agencies, the judicial commission and all those responsible. After doing its job somebody needs to prosecute. So these institutions have failed us in the past, I agree. They seem not to be allowed free will to exercise their authorities or influence.”

On his part, Egoh who spoke during a Media chat held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja called for immediate overhaul of the two anti-graft agencies

Egoh also stressed the need to establish special court that would handle various corruption cases.

This is coming on the heels of the ongoing investigative public hearing on N1 trillion recovered looted fund by EFCC held at the instance of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The lawmaker who gave the charge argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has failed in discharge of its statutory functions.