Press statement from antigraft agency EFCC.
A certain kind of drama almost always plays out when EFCC arraigns an
accused person in court. The defence counsel would immediately apply for
court bail.
However, if the court temporarily denies the application,
the counsel would again rise in open court and passionately plead with
the trial judge to allow his client remain in EFCC holding facility,
pending the determination of bail, or, where his application was
granted, pending fulfilment of bail conditions.
Notwithstanding this, some people with ulterior
motives have continuously sponsored false stories likening detention in
EFCC facilities to being held in dungeons where torture and other forms
of human rights abuses are commonplace.
The Commission however prides itself as meeting the highest possible
professional standards in all its operations. Such unprofessional
practices are not only outlawed in EFCC, they are regarded as criminal
and anyone who engages in them, risks severe sanctions, including
administrative reprimand and criminal prosecution.
EFCC has arguably, the best holding facilities of all law enforcement
and security agencies in Nigeria. To prove this to sceptics, Commission
on Thursday, 25th August, 2016, threw its facilities in Abuja, open for
inspection by journalists from all media persuasions, including those
who had unwittingly helped to propagate false notions about detention in
the EFCC.
The media men saw things firsthand and freely interacted and conducted
interview with suspects of their own choosing. They also toured the
clinic attached to the cells, fully manned and run 24 hours
round-the-clock by two qualified medical doctors, nurses and other
health professionals. Among the other medical and diagnostic facilities,
is a dedicated ambulance. The journalists also saw the meals served the
suspects, which are sourced from the EFCC Staff Canteen. Those who
prefer relatives to bring their meals from home, are so obliged. At the
end of the tour, one reporter described the detention facilities as ‘A
guest house for the big boys’.
Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, however threw a challenge to the reporters:
"If anyone of you think all these have been arranged, you are welcome to
come at anytime you chose, to spend time with us and see for yourself
(you can even spend some days in the cell); see how EFCC carries out
investigation, arrest, interrogation and if you want, be detained as
long as you say, in any of our facilities across the country. You don't
need to give us prior notice of your coming. You can even arrange it as a
group of reporters if you don't want to come alone."
He must be truly confident in EFCC's detention facilities. The over 30
journalists drawn from print, electronic and online platforms, said they
would seriously consider the offer.
0 comments:
Post a Comment