AGF recommends FBI model for EFCC, ICPC investigations

“It is by so doing that we can help ourselves and help the country. We all have a duty; a civic responsibility to report incidents of corruption, and it is also the statutory duty of the anti-corruption agencies to ensure thorough investigation.”

While noting that corruption is everywhere in the world, he said the government is doing enough to curtail it

“First, I start with an opening statement. Corruption is everywhere in the world. So when I hear people talk of corruption, corruption, as it exists in Africa, it exists in Europe, in Asia, but I will limit my question to this one now.

“In matters of corruption in the energy sector,  we know the effect is like a cancer. Unless you are very careful, you may not be able to stop it. But we are doing our utmost to ensure that this is nipped in the bud, or at least reduced to the bare minimum.”

Fagbemi disclosed that laws have been enacted in the fight against corruption.

“For instance, we have witnessed the promulgation into law of critical legislations like the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Corruption Act also in 2022.”

He added that the “work of the various anti-corruption agencies, particularly the IPCC and EFCC are also things that we feel, if properly and effectively pursued, will also reduce corruption significantly and to ensure the process is respected, protected, and corruption is deterred.

“it’s not everything that IPCC or EFCC is doing that will be advertised. I am aware that they are more involved now in prevention while not abandoning corruption.”

The Minister of Justice noted that the EFCC and IPCC, in collaboration with other agencies, have investigated corruption allegations, and they have performed well.

“For example, in 2022, a total of 3,700, almost 4,000 convictions were secured. This evidence is efficient on the part of these institutions to address the current corruption.

“Combating corruption is one of government’s priorities, and that’s why government has been doing it.”

Fagbemi added, “I believe, so concerted efforts of government against corruption will continue for months in terms of stealing, executive interference. This will continue to signal foreign investors that Nigeria is serious about combating corruption.”

The Attorney General of the Federation also disclosed that the government will be tackling the issues of conflicting judicial decisions with technology.

“I cannot run away from the fact that we have had conflicting decisions. But I want to assure you that that was in the past. You will not hear of any conflicting decisions these days. And, you know, certainty and predictability are the two pillars upon which judicial decisions stand.

“It must be predictable. It must be certain. So when there is conflict, then there is a problem.”That is now being addressed.”

He added that conflicting decisions are mostly in political decisions.

“When cases are filed, numerous cases are filed almost simultaneously across all the divisions of the court.

“This one does not know what is going on there. So that accounts for that. But with technology that is being put in place, if any decision has been rendered along a particular area of the law, then it is easy to detect.”

AGF recommends FBI model for EFCC, ICPC investigations