EFCC chair decries court orders stopping EFCC’s investigation in 10 states

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed, on Monday, that court orders have prevented the commission from pursuing investigations on corruption cases in 10 states.

Olukoyede on this note called for a collaboration between the commission and the judiciary in the fight against corruption.

Olukoyede made the call in Abuja, at the 6th EFCC/National Judicial Institute capacity-building workshop for justices and judges, themed ‘Integrating Stakeholders in Curbing Economic and Financial Crimes’.

He also complained about the frequent adjournments of high-profile cases and conflicting court orders secured by suspects to frustrate the commission in the prosecution of corruption cases.

Olukoyede said, “In spite of the energy and commitment of our judges in resolving corruption cases across the country and measures such as practice direction and designation of courts and judges to hear corruption matters, there are still some areas of concern that need to be addressed urgently.

“The spectre of frequent adjournments of high-profile corruption cases arising from frivolous applications, conflicting orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction in corruption cases, intemperate contempt orders hauled at the commission’s leadership, and undue reliance on technicality in deciding serious corruption cases, unwarranted orders of injunction restraining the commission from investigating graft cases, are among a plethora of issues that bother the EFCC, which should be on the table for frank conversations over the next two days.

“The incidence of suspects facing criminal investigation rushing to court to obtain orders of injunction restraining the commission from inviting, investigating, interrogating, and arresting them, including some state governments, has become rampant and worrisome.

“At the last count, the commission is unable to conduct an investigation in at least 10 states of the federation.

“This is in spite of the clear pronouncements by appellate courts that law enforcement agencies cannot be restrained in carrying out their statutory duties.”

Olukoyede asked the judicial officers to use their office to collaborate with the commission and discuss frankly how corruption cases can be speedily determined.

He noted that with the absence of a committed, patriotic, and courageous judiciary, the EFCC and other agencies would not be able to achieve much in the fight against corruption.

The Punch