WorldStage– The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has called for enhanced collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to address corruption and unethical practices among legal practitioners and security agents in the country.
The appeal was made Monday when a delegation from the Anti-Corruption Committee of the NBA, Lagos Branch, paid courtesy visits to the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 & 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1 Adebayo Adeniyi and ACE I Usman Bawa Kaltungo.
Speaking during the interactive sessions, the Chairman of the Committee, Udochi Iheanacho, SAN, said the visits were aimed at strengthening existing collaboration between the NBA Lagos Branch and the EFCC, as well as establishing a framework for investigating unethical conduct among both legal practitioners and EFCC investigators.
Iheanacho disclosed that every NBA branch across the country had been mandated to establish an anti-corruption committee in response to what she described as a growing erosion of public trust in the legal profession and security agencies.
She said: “This Committee is one of several that have been set up in every NBA branch nationwide.
“We have a national body — the NBA National Anti-Corruption Committee — and we are all working together.
“We want to tackle corruption in various ways. There is corruption within our fold and among some of our colleagues. We also encounter it among agencies we work with, including the EFCC and the Police.
“This is a new initiative, and in carrying out our activities, we require the backing of agencies with enforcement powers. When we identify issues that fall within your jurisdiction, we should be able to refer them appropriately for necessary action.”
Describing corruption as endemic in the country, Iheanacho noted that many people still lack a clear understanding of what constitutes corruption and corrupt practices.
According to her, “When something becomes normalized and cultural, and the lines become blurred, the task goes beyond merely catching people in the act.
“It requires sustained education and reorientation.”
She also emphasized the need for collaboration, particularly in the area of sensitization through effective and sustainable training programmes and workshops.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NBA, Lagos Branch, Uchenna Ogunedo-Akingbade, highlighted the roles of other committees within the branch, including the Human Rights Committee and the Security Agencies’ Relations Committee, which she said would also engage with the Commission to promote awareness about the dangers of corruption and unethical practices among lawyers and security agents.
“It is important that we intensify our fight against corruption, regardless of the personalities involved,” she said.
Responding, both Adeniyi and Kaltungo thanked the delegation for the visit and assured the Committee of the Commission’s cooperation.
They described the NBA as a strategic partner, adding that “Our doors are always open. We are public servants, not public masters. Where you require our support, we will readily provide it.
“We maintain a cordial working relationship with lawyers and continually remind our officers of the importance of respecting lawyers and suspects alike.”
While acknowledging that occasional friction may arise between lawyers and security agencies in the discharge of their duties, they stressed that the EFCC does not trivialize the role of legal practitioners.
“Even within families, disagreements occur. What matters most is how such issues are managed. If there are concerns requiring our intervention, feel free to knock on our doors,” he said.
In her remarks, the Head of Legal, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Ikoyi, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE Deborah Adamu-Eteh, urged the Committee’s leadership to address instances of unprofessional conduct by some members of the Association, noting that such behaviour tarnishes the image of the legal profession.
