By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—AFRICAN Bar Association, AFBA, has cautioned the Nigerian Senate over its moves to probe the allegation of corruption levelled against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, insisting that it has no constitutional power to try organs of the state in the media.

A statement by the Media Director of AFBA, Mr. Samuel Abasilim in Benin, Edo State, stated that the Nigerian Senate has a constitutional right to use its over sight functions to ensure that the various organs of the Nigerian state performed constitutionally and in the best interest of the Nigerian citizenry.

“The position of AFBA is that it if any allegation of crime is made against the EFCC or any of its officials, such crime should be reported to the Nigerian Police which has the constitutional role of investigating such criminal acts,” he said.

AFBA noted that the oversight function of the Nigerian National Assembly as envisaged by the Nigerian constitution was to ensure that organs of the state were alive to their responsibilities and conduct their affairs in line with their legal mandate.

Mr. Abasilim insisted that the EFCC was set up by an Act of the Nigerian Parliament, adding that the Act clearly defines how the EFCC should be run and the process of meeting out disciplinary measures to any of its erring officials.

He stated it would be counter-productive for any other arm of government to be seen, seeking to rubbish an institution saddled with very sensitive duties, saying that such action can only weaken the institution and bringing the nation to disrepute including the Senate itself.