April 25, (THEWILL) – A former Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Professor Nwoke Chijioke, has berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for engaging in media trials of suspects.
Speaking on Wednesday on ‘Politics Today,’ a programme on Channels Television, Prof. Chijioke criticised the EFCC’s approach, denouncing it as an unfair trial, while charging the anti-graft agency to conduct a discreet investigation of suspects.
”The EFCC Chairman’s press conference of yesterday (Tuesday) was really uncalled for. That is an unfair trial. All these challenges are because of what I would call a media trial.
“An institution of justice should be in a position, especially when you are the investigator, to carry out a discrete investigation. You do not need to involve the media.
“For example, the EFCC’s Chairman interview was really, really uncalled for. It was uncalled for in the sense that you do not need to accord any privilege to Yahaya Bello.
“The law does not require the according or giving of privileges to persons who are suspected of having committed an offence. That is one.
“Secondly, the law necessarily does not need, especially in situations of this nature. In corruption cases, you don’t necessarily need to make an arrest. You don’t need to bring into custody. Because more often than not, in corruption cases, they are determined by documentary evidence.
”If you make out a prima facie case and you have evidence to make out a prima facie case, why don’t you file a case in court and serve the accused person? Why would you, in the first instance, perhaps advertise or publicise? Because that is, in the first instance, unfair hearing,” he said.
About the Author
