Victor Ezeja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reacted to the call by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the transfer of the Ilorin (Kwara State) Zonal Commander of EFCC.
The anti-graft agency said the call which was made in a statement jointly signed by Aishat Omotayo Temim and Ridwan Musa, acting Chairperson and Publicity Secretary respectively of the Ilorin Branch of NBA, was due to the detention of one of the members of the bar, Suleiman Toyin Yahaya, recently, for allegedly tampering with the statement of a suspect under investigation.
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The Commission in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, described NBA’s action as a “blackmail and disguised attempt to intimidate the Ilorin Command of the Commission.”
The agency accused the NBA Ilorin branch of resorting to media attacks while it remained silent on the alleged criminal act of its members.
According to the EFCC, the NBA member was detained with a valid remand order. It, however, said that Yahaya was later released in obedience to a counter-court order.
Part of the statement read: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is drawn to a press statement jointly signed by Aishat Omotayo Temim and Ridwan Musa, acting Chairperson and Publicity Secretary respectively of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, drawing attention to what they termed as non-adherence to Rule of Law by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, and calling for the transfer of the Zonal Commander.
“Without prejudice to the right of members of the Bar, and indeed any Nigerian, to ventilate a grievance, the Commission is scandalized that the NBA Ilorin Branch chose a moment when one of its members, Suleiman Toyin Yahaya, was being detained by the Ilorin Command for allegedly tampering with the statement of a suspect under investigation, to launch a media attack against the Command and its leadership.
“This, to all intent and purposes, smacks of blackmail and a disguised attempt to intimidate the Ilorin Command of the Commission into unconscionable docility.
“As a branch of the NBA that prides itself as the apostle of the rule of law and ethical conduct, it is shocking that the Ilorin Branch of the NBA was silent on the alleged criminal act of its member who was being detained with a valid remand order, and has since been released in obedience to a counter order of court.”
The Commission said “it is worrisome that the NBA finds it convenient to shift the blame for the alleged unprofessional conduct of its members in matters of legal representation for crime suspects, to personnel of the EFCC. Legal representation of suspects is not within the remit of the EFCC.”
The statement further said that the Commission is willing to investigate any allegation of unprofessional conduct by any of its personnel, but those making such claims must provide proof.
“It must, however, be emphasized that the Commission, as a creation of law, conducts its activities within the ambit of law and no law has been violated so far by the EFCC in its operations in Ilorin,” the statement added
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
