Olukoyede flays lawyers hunting for clients at EFCC offices
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, on Monday, described as embarrassing, the situation in which lawyers roam the premises of the commission, hunting for clients without considering the decency of their profession.
He, therefore, urged defence counsel in the commission’s cases to be guided by the ethics of their profession in the discharge of their duties.
The EFCC chairman spoke when the leadership of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, led by its chairman, Ibrahim Lawal, paid her a courtesy visit.
At the meeting was also EFCC Ibadan zonal director, Hauwa Ringim.
A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, quoted Olukoyede as saying,“It is disheartening how a reasonable number of lawyers come into EFCC premises to display unprofessionalism; trying to interfere in investigation activities and pushing to get things done their 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 the investigation on his or her client and that if the officer does not conclude the investigation within his stipulated time, he will frustrate the efforts of the investigating officer? This is appalling.”
While emphasising the need for consistent stakeholders’ engagement between the Bar and EFCC towards effective service delivery, Olukoyede assured lawyers in the country of the commission’s collaboration, which, he said, was critical in the law enforcement activities of the commission.
Lawal thanked Ringim for the reception accorded the delegation, stressing that for greater successes to be achieved in the fight against corruption, there must be an effective collaboration between the EFCC and the Bar.
The NBA chairman, who condemned touting by lawyers, disclosed that the Ibadan branch had set up an “Anti-touting Committee” saddled with the responsibility of investigating and sanctioning lawyers who deviated from professional ethics.
While taking side with the commission on not permitting lawyers to stand as sureties in any anti-corruption case, Lawal maintained that doing so was “reprehensible and unacceptable to the Bar.”
She, however, requested an official and effective line of communication between the EFCC and the Bar for adequate sharing of information and for addressing enquiries by lawyers.
