EFCC Seeks NBA’s Intervention Against Frivolous Motions, As Journalists Float JAC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has tasked the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against frivolous exparte applications of lawyers, which often affect the operations of the Commission.

Making the appeal on Monday, August 24, 2020, was the Kano zonal head of the EFCC, Sanusi Aliyu Mohammed, when the leadership of the Kano Branch of the NBA paid him a courtesy visit.

He noted that much as it is the constitutional right of lawyers to defend their clients, some counsels usually employ exparte applications they know lack merit, just to stagnate prosecutorial efforts of the Commission.

The Kano Branch of the NBA, led by its chairman, Aminu Sani Gadanya, had come on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Kano zonal office, seeking partnership with the EFCC towards the improvement of justice delivery system in the country.

Gadanya, disclosed that one of his main objectives as NBA chairman was to have partnership with critical stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice, among which is the EFCC.

In his words, “When we came on board, we resolved that there is need for us to pay courtesy calls on some selected stakeholders in the administration of justice. In that resolution, we identified EFCC as one of the biggest stakeholders in the administration of justice.”

While recognising the critical role of the EFCC in justice administration, he said, “We are here to urge you to extend the support you gave the past NBA administrations over the years to the new NBA.”
The support, Gadanya, said, would see to joint sensitisation seminars and workshops by the NBA and the EFCC.

In his response, Mohammed assured the NBA executives of the Commission’s cooperation and partnership, noting that “the Kano zonal office is ready to work and partner with you and whatever cooperation the NBA has been enjoying, prior to my assumption of office, will not only be sustained but will be improved. It will improve because it is necessary that we work harmoniously together.”

Similarly,the Kaduna Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists( NUJ) has formed a group of pen pushers aimed at fighting the monster of corruption.

The group, called Journalists Against Corruption( JAC) comprises thirty members drawn from the NUJ.

The formation of the group was disclosed by the NUJ Chairman, Kaduna Chapter, Comrade Adamu Yusuf while receiving the Kaduna Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) CSP Sanusi Abdulahi Sanusi who paid him a Courtesy Visit.

The EFCC Team which was led by Sanusi stressed the important roles journalists are playing in the fight against corruption, noting that the NUJ was the first point of call on his assumption of office as the zonal head owing to the great roles the media is playing.

He called for the cooperation of Journalists and media organizations as change agents in the fight against graft so as to move the country forward.

Responding, Yusuf promised to continue working closely with the EFCC in the fight against corruption. He appealed to the EFCC
to help in tackling corruption in media houses, citing instances where its members were employed for years and their entitlements and salaries denied them by their employers.