The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, has said that the current administration will keep guaranteeing the independence of the anti-graft agencies in the fight against corruption. He recently revealed that the Federal Government will not interfere in any investigation instituted against any person or organisation allegedly involved in criminal activity by the anti-graft agencies.
Speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of a Top Management Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Justice held on Thursday in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state, he shared that the President Bola Tinubu-led government will continue to let the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) fight corruption independently.
According to him, EFCC and ICPC will always be left alone to wage war against corruption in Nigeria because they are capable of getting the job done without any form of interference.
He stated that the Ministry of Justice can only step in after the commissions wrap up their investigations.
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“We don’t interfere in the investigation of corruption cases by anti graft agencies.
So, what we do is leave them because they are best suited, they are well organised, and that’s why they are put in place to try and do investigations in respect of an allegation or commission of a crime.
When they are done with their investigation, we take it up from there and see whether there are gaps or whether there are some other issues to be further investigated,” he said.
Fagbemi maintained that Nigeria’s constitution emphasises the independence of the anti-graft agencies; therefore, no one should expect the government to be involved in their investigations.
He concluded by reiterating the current government’s determination to conquer corruption and aid the development of infrastructure.
