The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has issued a stern warning to anti-graft agencies in the country against arresting individuals without conducting a thorough investigation.
Fagbemi noted this while declaring that any Nigerian convicted of corruption should not be granted a state pardon.
On arresting individuals considered suspects, the AGF stressed the importance of having solid evidence before calling individuals in for questioning.
During a roundtable discussion hosted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for state attorneys general in Abuja on Monday, Fagbemi said: “I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘Prerogative of Mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others.”
The AGF emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly the Attorneys General, in the battle against corruption.
Fagbemi urged the Attorneys General to reject nepotism, political persecution, rivalry, and prejudice in their efforts to combat corruption, even if it means disappointing their governors.
He further stated that there should be no justification for corruption or criminal activities.
He insisted that their legal assessments of cases must be grounded in factual evidence, as is customary in more developed nations, and remarked,
“We must resist succumbing to public opinion. In Nigeria, we are divided along political lines.”
“Let us be thorough and take our time before inviting someone for questioning. Don’t do a shoddy job and be quick to say we have caught a big fish…You will catch a big fish. If it is two or three big fish you are able to get in a year, and you are thorough, it is alright.”
The AGF also counselled against filing bogus counts of charges against defendants just to generate frenzy in the public against the suspect.
“Nobody wants a 50-count charge…make it five or six and be sure. Make sure you get him (suspect) in,” he added.
