*As EFCC, ICPC fault proposed amendments to ACJA
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have rejected proposal in the ongoing amendment of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), asking them to submit case file of a matter to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) and in the process, exposing the whistle-blowers.
In the proposed amendment of ACJA, the Senate had proposed that a case file must be submitted to the AGF by the anti-agencies for necessary vetting.
But the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, kicked against the provision in the bill while appearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
The committee was chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti), during a public hearing on the bill to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and six other bills.
Opposing the amendment, EFCC insisted that the provision would constitute undue interference by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation who is a political appointee.
In its memorandum presented before the committee, the EFCC said, “This will constitute undue interference by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation who is also the Minister of Justice and a political appointee, in the work of the law enforcement agencies.”
The representative of ICPC chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, also said the agency aligned itself with the positions of the EFCC in the amendment of the bill.
The anti-graft agencies also kicked against provision for the freezing of accounts under investigation for a period of 14 days by ex parte order, saying that the section is unnecessary as it would impede the activities of the investigation agencies and freezing of accounts containing proceeds of crime.
In his opening remark, Bamidele said the bill sought to establish the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council as obtainable in other jurisdictions, similar to the Bureau of Justice in the United States of America and the London Criminal Justice Board.
He said, “The Bill also seeks to establish the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council as obtainable in other jurisdictions, similar to the Bureau of Justice in the United States of America and the London Criminal Justice Board.
“This is with a view to delivering a fair, efficient and effective criminal justice service in Nigeria and to improve outcomes, through active partnership.”
Bamidele also stated that the entire memorandum submitted by the various stakeholders will be looked at critically before submitting the report to the Senate.
The Bill was sponsored by Senator Orji Kalu (PDP, Abia) in December 2021 and forwarded to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
