SGF, Sagay, Falana deplore roles of lawyers in aiding corruption

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr. Babachir
Lawal; the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and human rights lawyer, Mr.
Femi Falana (SAN), among others, on Thursday lamented the
roles of some lawyers, judges and other professionals in aiding
corruption.
Also speaking along the same line , the Executive Secretary of the
PACC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said efforts were on to isolate and
penalise professionals, who contributed to money laundering,
failed to expose their corrupt clients but chose to share from the
proceeds of crime.
They spoke in Abuja at a workshop on the ‘Role of professionals
in the fight against corruption’.
The workshop was co-organised by the Sagay-led PACC ,
Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria and the Convention
on Business Integrity.
Lawal said some lawyers and a few of compromised judges,
helped corrupt persons to frustrate their successful prosecution
of criminal cases, a development which he said was injurious to
government’s anti-corruption war.
Babachir, who was represented by an official in his office, Mr.Tor
Tsavsar who is Director, Nigerian National Volunteer Services, said
there was need for professionals to see themselves as
stakeholders in government’s anti-graft efforts .
He said, “From recent revelations, corruption is usually aided and
facilitated by conniving civil servants and professionals in the
public and private sectors . It is no news that most stolen funds
are laundered through our banks and other offshore entities that
are owned and managed by professionals.
“A recent case of the ‘Panama Papers scandals’ is an example
of how politicians , criminals and rogue industries were assisted
by professionals to launder stolen funds . It is equally regrettable
that some of the professionals do not stop at aiding, abetting and
facilitating the stealing of public funds, but more often than not,
go further to offer direct and indirect support to indicted officials
to beat the law.
“It is no more news that corrupt officials are able to engage
some of our seasoned lawyers, who employ negative tactics ‘in
or out of court’ to frustrate trials of indicted officials.
“The retinue of frivolous interlocutory applications, which are
pursued up to the apex court, while action on substantive
matters are stayed, are common examples of how professional
lawyers frustrate the fight against corruption.
“Similarly, some compromised judges always exhibit a
disquieting tendency to indulge these lawyers in their unpatriotic
and unscrupulous conduct. The attitude of some of our legal
practitioners and judges have become so alarming that Mr.
President had, on few occasions, lamented their role in the fight
against corruption.”
Sagay deplored the conduct of professionals who aided corruption
and fraud.
He said the Federal Government was considering how to ensure
that those who aided corrupt and fraudulent acts were also
prosecuted.