September 10, (THEWILL) – The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has said those found guilty of corruption should not be granted state pardons.
Speaking at a roundtable organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for state Attorneys-General in Abuja on Monday, Fagbemi also advised law enforcement agencies to avoid shoddy investigations, urging them to have all necessary facts before summoning individuals for questioning.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the minister solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the states Attorneys General in the fight against corruption.
He advised them to eschew nepotism, political witch-hunting, rivalry and bigotry in the fight against corruption just because they want to please their governors.
“I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘Prerogative of Mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Your legal opinions on cases must be based on facts as practised in advanced countries. We should not give in to public sentiments as in Nigeria, we are polarised along political lines.
“Let us be thorough and take our time before inviting someone for questioning. Do not do shoddy jobs and don’t be quick to say we have caught a big fish. If it is two or three big fish you are able to get in a year and you are thorough, it is alright.
“Also stop filing bogus counts of charges against defendants just to generate frenzy in the public against the suspect. Nobody wants a 50-count charge, make it five or six and be sure in order to get suspects in”, he said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
