Constitutional lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the President Muhammadu Buahri administration to stop the Department of State Services (DSS) from investigating graft and financial crimes.
Speaking on Wednesday, Falana urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to take over all cases of official corruption.
He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should limit its activities to money laundering, cyber crimes, advanced fee fraud and other economic and financial crimes.
”With the new development, the Presidency should, as a matter of urgency, ensure that each of the anti graft agencies is made to henceforth operate within its statutory core mandate.
”If the federal government is prepared to reclaim the initiative it must insist on regular inter agency collaboration on the part of the anti graft agencies,” he said.
Appointment
Falana also praised the recent appointment of Prof. Bolaji Owasanye as Chairman of the ICPC and Okoi Obono-Obla to handle recovery of public property.
”By appointing Professor Bolaji Owasanye, the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption, as the chairman of the ICPC and Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, the Presidential Adviser on Prosecution as the Chairman of the Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property who are both men of proven integrity, the federal government has demonstrated its determination to refocus, restrategise and rejig the anti corruption programme which has almost been hijacked by the forces of corruption and impunity in the country,” he noted.
