The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede on Wednesday directed that sting operations at night time be stopped in all the anti-corruption commission’s commands across the country.
The directive, according to a release by the commission spokesman, Dele Oyewale, was in line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects.
Oyewale stated that the chairman gave the directive in Abuja in reaction to the arrest of 69 suspected internet fraudsters by EFCC operatives from its Ibadan Zonal Command in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
“Already, many of the suspects duly profiled by the Command have been released, while profiling of suspects yet to be released will be completed without further delay.
“The Commission wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its adherence to the rule of law in the exercise of its mandate,” the spokesman stated.
In another development, the anti-graft agency has reviewed its guidelines on the arrest, bail and processing of suspects.
The review, which Oyewale stated was premised on the news to adhere to the rule of law and international best practices in the treatment of suspects, was rolled out on Monday, October 30 across all its commands.
“In the new guideline, premium attention is focused on the rights of suspects, especially where arrest, detention and bail issues are concerned.
“Operational activities are to be tailored towards relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2011 (sic) and the EFCC’s Standard Operating Procedures, SOP.”
He added that “specifically, operatives of the commission are not allowed to demand for professional certificates of sureties as a bail condition. Also, every demand for international passports of suspects would henceforth be exercised with discretion, depending on the nature of the case, personality and country of residence of the suspect.”
Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC, Commander of EFCC, CE Sylvanus Tahir SAN, cautioned that “bail conditions served on suspects must be reasonable and practicable to be fulfilled by suspects and their sureties. Detention of suspects without a Remand Warrant for unreasonable length of time beyond the constitutionally allowed period must henceforth stop forthwith.”
Oyewale further stated that Tahir warned EFCC officers against unwarranted violations of the rights of suspects and called for professionalism in all operational activities.
According to the Director, Legal and Prosecution, “it is time to have a paradigm shift and change the narrative. Henceforth, professionalism shall be the watchword. Let’s follow the best international standards worth our identity as a flagship law enforcement agency.”
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then