LAGOS: Falana, Concerned Lawyers Protest Against Colleagues, Support Anti-Corruption

A group of lawyers under the umbrella of ‘Concerned Lawyers’ has raised its  voice and described as embarrassing the recent involvement of some senior lawyers to frustrate the judicial process as well as descending as low as bribing the court judge against the ongoing trial of a senior advocate of Nigeria in the fight against corruption in the country.

The lawyers vehemently criticized the predicament stating that it leaves much to be desired of senior lawyers that are supposed to be role models in the temple of justice adding that no one is above the law irrespective of the profession.

The group led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC frowned at the development and pledged its support to the anti-graft agency promising to mobilize Nigerians against any group attempting to hinder the anti-graft war. Interestingly, the lawyers argued the rationale behind the inequality in the society where high profile persons are granted bail but the same court of law denies same equitable remedies to burglars, kidnappers and armed robbers.

Receiving the lawyers by the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, the spokesperson, Falana unequivocally stated that the group is solidly behind the commission to eradicate corruption in the country, however noted that such support can only be realistic where the fight is done without being selective. It also sought to correct the impression that all lawyers are correct due to the demeanour of the few persons in the profession.

“We are here to assure the EFCC of our unflinching support and solidarity as long as the EFCC is prepared to fight graft without trace of selectivity. We also want to urge you to beware not to fall into the fallacy of generalisation. There are bad lawyers and judges, but there are also good ones. Name and shame criminal minded judges and lawyers. Majority of members of the legal profession are prepared to work with the EFCC to ensure that corruption is fought.

“There should be respect for lawyers doing their professional duties. No lawyer should be harassed for doing his professional duty. But any lawyer found to have aided and abated corruption should be dealt with in accordance with the laws.  No one is above the law.

“We are embarrassed by a few of our privileged colleagues who bribe judges, talk to them behind doors to pervert justice. Lawyers must not be allowed to take advantage of their profession to frustrate trial of a suspect. We have a duty to this country as ministers in the temple of justice. Why deny a suspected armed robber or kidnapper bail, but grant a person who is accused of stealing N10 billion or above bail and give him his passport to roam the world? Corruption is responsible for armed robbery and kidnapping. It is responsible for unemployment in our society and so, why should such people enjoy bail?” Falana said.

In response, the EFCC boss registered his gratefulness on the solidarity reiterating his determination to discharge his duties without fear or favour irrespective of whose ox is gored. He lamentably noted that lawyers are supposed to be team players in the fight but eventually, few of them are bringing bad images to the profession.

“Corruption has started fighting back. Beneficiaries of proceeds of corruption have constituted themselves into a gang of 134 lawyers to fight back, but we will win.

“We have professionals who are paid with stolen funds to fight those fighting corruption. They do not believe that corruption in itself is wrong…”

“It was against this backdrop that I made my call on some senior lawyers to aid EFCC to recover our stolen commonwealth, rather than helping to thwart the efforts of the government in that direction. Since I made that call, a number of your colleagues have been calling for my head.

“I want to announce that we have been prosecuting lawyers quietly. Apart from the widely published case against learned silk, Ricky Tarfa  (SAN), the EFCC has taken several lawyers to court and some have been convicted. The commission would be releasing all the information about those people to the public soon.

“Apart from those, we have been quietly investigating many senior lawyers across the country in relation to the proceeds of certain heinous crimes against the Nigerian people. When we have reached a comfortable stage in our investigations, we would take them to court and make the outcomes of our inquiries known to the people.

“I am very much aware that the war against corruption and all the work of the EFCC cannot be done without the courts, where lawyers and judges make up that indispensable branch of democratic governance.

“Far from the devious insinuation that we may be denying the rights of suspects and accused persons to legal representation, what we are asking members of the noble profession to do is stricter due diligence on their prospective clients and refuse to be part of the mindless looting of Nigeria.

“Let senior lawyers allow the ethics of their profession, the interest of Nigeria and their good conscience to guide them when they accept briefs and are called upon to use their skills to pervert the cause of justice, as many now do.”

Other notable lawyers that spoke at the event includes, Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of the deceased senior advocate of Nigeria, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) who advocated for death penalty for corrupt persons.

“Once there is evidence, there is no point granting corrupt people bail. Keep them under lock and after the trial, execute them. Judges should stop relying on Section 36 for corruption matters. More than 4200 soldiers have been killed in the fight against insurgency; over five million people have been displaced,” Fawehnimi said.

It would be recalled that senior lawyers numbering ninety flooded the court premises in solidarity and defense of the Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN) who is standing trial over corruption charges. During the trial, the EFCC in addition to the two-count charges accused with the senior lawyer of bribing a judge of the Federal High Court with a sum of N225,000:00.  Following the substantial evidences tendered by the anti-graft body, the Tarfa admitted to have remitted the amount but tied it to a donation made by the Committee of Friends to the Judge which he is also a member. According to him, the money was in respect of the burial of the Judge’s father who died in 2013.