Fijabi Olanrewaju
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association of launching a media attack on it for inordinate reasons.
The anti-graft agency, in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the allegation of non-adherence to the rule of law by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, and the subsequent call for the transfer of the Zonal Commander. of the Commission is laced with vendetta.
The EFCC says it is scandalized that the Ilorin Branch of the NBA chose a moment when one of its members, Suleiman Toyin Yahaya, was being detained by the Ilorin Command for allegedly tampering with the statement of a suspect under investigation, to launch a media attack against the Command and its leadership.
The EFCC maintains that the action smacks of blackmail and a disguised attempt to intimidate the Ilorin Command of the Commission into “unconscionable docility”.
“As a branch of the NBA that prides itself as an apostle of the rule of law and ethical conduct, it is shocking that the Ilorin Branch of the NBA was silent on the alleged criminal act of its member who was being detained with a valid remand order, and has since been released in obedience to a counter order of a court.
“It is also worrisome that the NBA finds it convenient to shift the blame for the alleged unprofessional conduct of its members in matters of legal representation for crime suspects, to personnel of the EFCC. Legal representation of suspects is not within the remit of the EFCC. While the Commission is willing to investigate any allegation of unprofessional conduct by any of its personnel, those making such claims must provide proof.
“It must, however, be emphasized that the Commission, as a creation of law, conducts its activities within the ambit of law and no law has been violated so far by the EFCC in its operations in Ilorin”.
EFCC’s rebuttal comes on the heel of a press statement jointly signed by Aishat Omotayo Temim and Ridwan Musa, acting Chairperson and Publicity Secretary respectively of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, drawing attention to what they termed as non-adherence to rule of law by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, and calling for the transfer of the Zonal Commander.
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