…Seeks enabling laws to protect whistleblowers

By Henry Ojelu & Esther Rewane

CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, yesterday, charged lawyers to stop indulging in activities that encourage and embolden crime suspects to evade justice.

Mr Olukoyede said this in Lagos during the Annual General Conference of the  Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, with the theme ‘Lawyers in the spotlight: Essential anti-money laundering considerations for the legal profession’.

Speaking at a breakout session, the EFCC chairman stated that lawyers must bring financial crimes suspects to court and not assist them to evade justice.

His words: “Don’t try to protect suspected criminals, people who must have committed financial crimes. So, if you know where, who or whatever we are looking for, it is your duty to bring that person to the open and we will do our part.”

Speaking on the challenges of delayed prosecutions, Olukoyede noted that the EFCC will ensure that cases are prosecuted no matter how long it takes, with strict adherence to the law.

He said: “My responsibility and mandate is to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. It’s one of our most priorities.”

He, however, urged lawyers to perform their civic responsibilities as Nigerians and highlighted the importance of mutual respect between lawyers and the EFCC.

He said: “We are all Nigerians before becoming lawyers and you must perform. Being a lawyer does not exempt you from your civic responsibilities, comply and do the right thing.

“Under my watch, everyone that comes to the EFCC will be treated with dignity, regardless of the circumstances.”

While he urged the National Assembly to enact laws that further support the whistle-blower policy of the Federal Government, he noted that once the law is enacted, it will make it mandatory for law enforcement agencies to protect the whistle-blowers.

In his remarks, the NBA president, Mr Yakubu Maikyau called for more collaboration with the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to fight corruption.