SAN FRANCISCO, January 12, (THEWILL) – Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously supported a bill that seeks to restructure the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The bill, sponsored by Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), has passed through second reading and was referred to the House Committee on Financial Crimes for further legislative input.
THEWILL gathered that Section 12(1) of the bill provides for the establishment of witness protection unit and detention unit to ensure conducive and enough detention space to keep suspects in accordance with the law.
The legal framework, which supports the ongoing anti-corruption campaign of the present administration, also deals with EFCC property under trail, increased penalty and disqualification of convicted persons as provided for in sections 14(1a,b) and 32 of the Principal Act.
According to Ossai, “The creation and establishment of these two units in the EFCC at this time the Federal Government in seriously fighting corruption is very necessary and apt. There is no way the Federal Government can succeed in the fight against corruption when sound evidence is not provided and proved. It is through witnesses that evidence are given and tendered in court.”
“It is obvious fact that most Nigerians are afraid to give evidence in court. But with the establishment and passage of this bill, witnesses will be protected and freely give best evidential value that will assist the Federal Government through the EFCC to fight corruption.”
The bill also proposes the alteration of Section 2(1a) (ii) of the Principal Act to ensure that the chairman of the agency is not a serving member, but a retired member of the security or law enforcement agencies while he second segment of the bill deals with compensation for victims of an offence, trial and investigative processes as provided in sections 3, 4, and 5.
It also seeks for the establishment of a new committee in the EFCC called Operations Review Committee, which shall consist of a retired chief justice of Nigeria, justice of the Supreme Court, retired inspector general of police, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and president of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Ossai explained that the Operations Review Committee shall be saddled with the responsibility of reviewing every complaint before the EFCC and advice where necessary.
“This committee is to properly guide the EFCC in the execution of its duties and to ensure that Nigerians get justice, equity and fair play from the administration and execution of official duties by EFCC,” he said.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader, noted that the bill was apt in view of the renew fight against corruption by the President Muhammadu Buhari led government.
Gbajabiamila however expressed reservation with the Operations Review Committee saying it may be tantamount to oversighting the EFCC “which is supposed to be an independent organisation.”
Story by David Oputah
