The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has cautioned members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) about submitting unnecessary and frivolous petitions against anti-corruption agencies and judges during litigation.
Dr. Aliyu shared this warning on Monday while hosting the Chairman and members of the National Litigation Committee (NLT) of the NBA at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
He stated, “Writing unnecessary petitions against officers of the Commission and judges without concrete justification is not appropriate, as we are all colleagues and partners in the fight against corruption.” He emphasized that professional measures should be sought to resolve issues that arise between lawyers and anti-corruption officers during investigations and litigation.
The Chairman highlighted that submitting frivolous petitions against judges and anti-corruption officers does not contribute positively to the fight against corruption. He noted that such actions do not encourage those diligently working to rid Nigeria of corruption.
Dr. Aliyu reassured his guests, stating, “At ICPC, there is no harassment of lawyers. We ensure that the rights of lawyers are protected, just as we protect the rights of our officers in the course of their duties.”
He urged the NBA to promptly bring any concerns to the Commission’s attention, assuring them that ICPC is committed to objectively addressing such issues.
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“We at ICPC strive to protect the rights of suspects and their lawyers. Since I took on the role of Chairman, I have not received any complaints about lawyers being harassed by the Commission’s officers,” he remarked.
He called for mutual professional respect and understanding in accordance with the law, urging lawyers to reciprocate courtesy towards the Commission’s officers during interactions.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NLT, Barr. Vincent Otaokpokpu informed Dr. Aliyu that the committee was visiting to brief him on its responsibilities as outlined in the Terms of Reference issued by the NBA. He noted that their committee was the first established under the current NBA leadership to protect lawyers’ rights while they perform their duties.
Mr. Otaokpokpu explained that the committee was tasked with advocating for lawyers’ rights, promoting their interests, and assisting those who face humiliation or harassment from law enforcement agents.
He expressed the committee’s desire to collaborate with ICPC to jointly combat corruption while ensuring the protection of lawyers’ rights.
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by ICPC when interacting with lawyers representing corruption suspects, as some lawyers may become overly zealous in defending their clients.
The Committee pledged to assist in educating lawyers on how to protect the integrity of the Bar and uphold the Rule of Law, expressing their willingness to collaborate with ICPC, even in litigation matters
Finally, the ICPC Chairman encouraged all lawyers to take anti-money laundering issues seriously, as outlined in the NBA’s professional guidelines.
