The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has expressed worry over an allegation that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, collected N15 million bribe to drop a money laundering case against a convicted crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
In a statement by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the legal body while applauding the anti-graft agency for its timely decision to probe the matter, sought an independent investigation by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.
Describing the allegation as disturbing, the NBA stated that an urgent and thorough investigation was needed to determine whether the bribe was paid, and whether bribes are sometimes paid to influence the nature of charges brought against defendants in criminal cases.
According to the legal body, the investigation would also test the transparency of the investigative process and the procedures for charging defendants in court.
It urged the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to not only respond to the allegation that Bobrisky did not serve his time in a correctional facility but to also provide transparent details on the conditions under which he served his sentence.
“The NBA acknowledges that all individuals and institutions accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
“However, we insist that a swift and thorough investigation be carried out to establish the truth. If any public official is found culpable, appropriate legal actions must be taken to hold them accountable.
“If it is proven that he was allowed to serve his sentence outside a Correctional Facility, in breach of the law and a court order, the officers and officials responsible must be prosecuted and dismissed from service.
“Any person found complicit must face the full weight of the law,” the NBA added.