By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT: New President of the Nigerian Bar Association,   Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN has called for some   reform in the mandate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,   EFCC that will   remove the responsibility of prosecuting suspects   from the body.

In his inaugural address yesterday in Port Harcourt     at the last session of the annual conference of the body, Mamoud said it was necessary to narrow amd define clearly the mandate of the anti graft agency, adding that the   focus of the EFCC should be largely to investigate allegations of financial crime.

He said Independent prosecution agency should be left to handle prosecution of suspects,   adding that the EFCC should be protected from undue political interference. He also said the anti graft agency need not report operationally to the presidency,

Mahmoud said the NBA under his watch will fight against judicial corruption, stressing that his tenure will make the judiciary unattractive for corrupt lawyers.

Continuing,   he said the NBA will offer its services to reduce tension in the north east and the Niger Delta region.