AGF writes EFCC, ICPC again over high profile cases

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has again written to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to send case files of lingering high profile corruption cases to his office.

The Senior Special Assistant to the president on prosecutions, Okoi ObonoObla disclosed this to Daily Trust yesterday on the sidelines of a stakeholders summit on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, organised by the CLEEN Foundation in Abuja.

Obla said the anti-corruption agencies have been prosecuting several high profile cases, “Some since 2006 and not making any headway. Duplicates of the case files have not been made available to the AGF for the committee inaugurated by the Acting President to assist with prosecution of such pending cases.” While citing cases involving some top politicians, Obla said “That is why the Attorney General wanted to have the case files so that we can see the actual problems stalling the hearing of these matters.”

Asked why the anti-graft agencies are resisting such attempt at collaborative efforts, he said “Well, I don’t want to be speculative but the AGF has made another request and I believe they have to comply because the Attorney General is the chief prosecutor of the federation, all of them are under his supervision.”

Obla said the AGF has powers to takeover or withdraw any case filed by the EFCC, the ICPC or any other government agency filed before any court in the country. He said the prosecution committee comprising the Attorney General and the Solicitor General of the Federation was meant to complement prosecution by the anti-graft agencies.