The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called for stricter penalties for those found guilty of corruption, including the denial of state pardon.
Fagbemi made this statement at a roundtable organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for state Attorneys General in Abuja.
Fagbemi emphasized the need for thorough investigations and cautioned against shoddy work, urging law enforcement agencies to have their facts before summoning anyone for questioning. He also advised against media trials, stressing the importance of conducting thorough investigations before arresting suspects.
The AGF further stressed the importance of cooperation among stakeholders, particularly state Attorneys General, in the fight against corruption. He counseled them to avoid nepotism, political witch-hunting, rivalry, and bigotry, and to base their legal opinions on facts rather than public sentiments.
“We should not give in to public sentiments. In Nigeria, we are polarised along political lines.”, Fagbemi said.
Fagbemi also warned against filing bogus charges against defendants to generate public frenzy, advising instead to focus on a few solid charges that can secure convictions. He emphasized the need for thoroughness and patience in investigations, saying, “Let us be thorough and take our time before inviting someone for questioning.”
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