Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede has urged defence counsel handling the commission’s cases to abide by the ethics of their profession.
Olukoyede spoke through the Ibadan Zonal Director, Hauwa Ringim, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, when the Executive Committee of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by its chairman, Ibrahim Lawal, visited the commission’s office.
“It is disheartening how a reasonable number of lawyers come into EFCC premises and begin to display unprofessionalism, trying to interfere in investigation activities and pushing to get things done their own way, outside the standard operating procedure of the EFCC.
“Why would a lawyer walk into the EFCC office to see his client and tell the investigating officer that he or she ought to have concluded investigation on his or her client, and that if the officer does not conclude investigation within his stipulated time, he would frustrate the efforts of the investigating officer? This is appalling,” he said.
Olukoyede stressed the need for consistent stakeholders’ engagement between the Bar and the EFCC towards effective service delivery.
The EFCC chairman decried a situation in which lawyers roam the commission’s premises, “hunting for clients without considering the decency of their profession”.
He assured lawyers of the commission’s collaboration, adding that this is critical in the law enforcement activities of the commission.
Lawal expressed the gratitude of the lawyers to Ringim, who hosted them on behalf of the EFCC chairman.
The Nation
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