The Nigerian Bar Association has called for an immediate investigation into the N15 million bribery allegation against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
A convicted cross-dresser, Bobrisky, had claimed that she paid a N15 million bribe to EFCC officials to have a money laundering case against her dropped.
Reacting to Okuneye’s allegations in a statement signed by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), on Wednesday, the NBA described the allegations as disturbing.
While Osigwe commended the EFCC for its timely decision to probe the matter, he demanded an independent investigation by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The professional body of lawyers stressed that an urgent and thorough investigation must be carried out to determine whether the bribe was paid or if bribes are commonly paid to influence the nature of charges brought against defendants in criminal cases.
The association noted that the investigation would also test the transparency of the investigative process and the procedures for charging defendants in court.
Osigwe, in the statement, further asked the Nigerian Correctional Service to not only respond to the allegation that Bobrisky did not serve her time in a correctional facility but also provide transparent details on the conditions under which she served her sentence.
“If it is proven that she was allowed to serve her sentence outside a correctional facility, in breach of the law and a court order, the officers and officials responsible must be prosecuted and dismissed from service.
“Any person found complicit must face the full weight of the law,” the statement emphasised.
