Anti-Corruption War: Buhari never dictates to EFCC - Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari would never dictate to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies on who to investigate or release in the course of the ongoing anti-corruption war.

He said the present administration had given the agencies the independence to use their discretion in carrying out their duties.

Osinbajo spoke while inaugurating the National Prosecution Coordination Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the effective prosecution of high criminal cases in the country.

The Vice-President said, “When you look at the way that the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies have acted in recent times you will notice that they are not under any kind of direction of influence of the President.

“They are given the independence to act; they are given the authority and backing to act in their own and to use their own discretion appropriately at all times.

“You don’t get any situation where the President says go get that person of back off that person.

“All of us know that the President is completely committed to fighting corruption and economic crimes and terrorism.”

Osinbajo however said in giving them free hand, Buhari also expected that the agencies use their powers with fairness, devoid of any prejudice.

He said the same responsibility had been given to the newly formed NPCC to bring justice to the people.

“That is the sort of responsibility placed on your own shoulders as well, the responsibility to exercise prosecutorial power independently and without any direction except of course from the learned Attorney-General who is the constitutional and prosecutorial authority in the country.

“It is a very serious responsibility because it also involves making sure that people are treated fairly or that people are not pursued by reason of bias or any other such consideration,’’ the Vice-President said.

He added that it was important that those being prosecuted were not embarrassed needlessly by the prosecutors.