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Nigeria: Corrupt Military Officers – Senate to Amend Law Allowing Investigation and Prosecution of EFCC

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Nigeria: Corrupt Military Officers – Senate to Amend Law Allowing Investigation and Prosecution of EFCC

Abuja — The Senate has said it will introduce a constitutional amendment that would give the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) powers to investigate and prosecute military officers accused of corruption and other financial crimes.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, stated this on Monday when members of the committee visited the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency in Abuja.

According to the Senate Committee Chairman, most of the challenges facing the EFCC can be resolved through the constitution and budget process.

He condemned a situation in which the agency could only investigate and prosecute military personnel who were on duty after a court-martial.

“We think it is against the EFCC Act for the court to rule that a soldier cannot be investigated and tried unless he goes to court-martial.

“We thought we would do this by amending the EFCC law so that they have the power to investigate and prosecute,” the MP said.

Meanwhile, Udende stated that the committee will ensure an increase in the Commission budget by capitalizing on the remarkable achievements of the Commission in recent times, especially under the current chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

Udende said: “As a committee, we want to congratulate the President and his team for a great job. When I saw the report, I couldn’t believe it. And no one came forward to object to this report.

“As a committee, we are pleased that they did a good job. We were going to submit this report to the Senate, but as a committee, we are satisfied.

“We have completed the budget performance. We are also pleased that they have done a good job with the limited resources they have.”

He, however, identified the lack of understanding on the part of most Nigerians accusing legislators of padding the budget every time beyond what is sent by the executive arm of government.

He explained that what the executive brings is a draft and it becomes law or law only after it is discussed and accepted by the legislators.

“When you look at an institution like EFCC and say they need so much and you put the money there, Nigerians will say you cannot pay the money…. I was the vice chairman of the committee between 2015 and 2019. I was a member of the committee.