RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E.F.C.C AND I.C.P.C (INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION)

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EFCC AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
It is a truism to say that both organizations are responsible for the tackling of issues that has to do with corruption and with specific interest in financial crimes. A vivid example is the provisions of sections 8-26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act which provides for offences. Also, sections 12 and 13 made provisions for fraudulent acquisition of property and also the receipt of property. The E. F.C.C. also made provisions in sections 18 (i,a, b,c) of the E.F.C.C. Establishment Act on the acquisition, possession or use of property knowing at the time of its acquisition that it was derived from an offence.


Besides the fact, that both of them are mostly concerned with financial crimes, it is also sufficient to know that the constitution recognizes that the two organizations can initiate criminal proceedings and that is the narrow point of issue that was called for determination in the case of Osahon v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, a decision which is not a detraction or subtraction from the powers specifically vested in the  Attorney-General under section 1742 of the Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria. Notwithstanding, the fact that these agencies can on their own initiate criminal proceedings arising from the Acts creating them, the Attorney-General is empowered under the Constitution to take over and continue such criminal proceedings.

Despite their relationship, it would be a gross abuse of legal process and an antithesis to the interest of justices, if both I.C.P.C. and E.F.C.C.  are prosecuting contemporaneously, the same set of accused persons in respect of similar or identical offences. A few judicial authorities on the power of the Attorney-General considered is seen in the case of Shittu Layiwola and 3 Ors v. The Queen and State v. Obasi.

It is also vital to note the current happenings in their relationship which is the issue of disagreement. There is a sharp disagreement between the independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. over the setting up of an anti-corruption committee in ministries, departments and agencies. While the E.F.C.C. has issued a circular to raise the Committee within seven days, for budget tacking, I.C.P.C. has written a counter-circular to civil servants to ignore any directive from the E.F.C.C. The circular reads “the attention of the chairman, I.C.P.C. has been drawn to a circular, from the E.F.C.C. directing the establishment of anti-corruption and transparency committee in all ministries, departments and agencies.

This is not in accordance with the Federal Government circular, by which the I.C.P.C. had already established over 300 Anti-Corruption and transparency monitoring Units (ACTUS) in all ministries, departments and agencies. It is believed that the E.F.C.C. is probably not aware of the existence and spread of ACTUS and the guidelines established by the standing order or that he I.C.P.C. is governing their composition, functions and operations. But the E.F.C.C. in its circular signed by its coordinator for strategy and re-orientation unit, Mr. Ben Goong, insisted that it would required immediate setting up of the committee for effective budget tracking. In addition to this, investigations revealed that the then I.C.P.C., chairman, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (Rtd) complained about duplication of the functions of I.C.P.C. It is also said apart from the establishment of the anti-corruption corps committee, E.F.C.C. is planning to float anti-corruption corps which I.C.P.C. had established throughout the Federation.

It is in the opinion of the writer, that if an old order is not working, the I.C.P.C. should give room for change. The anti-corruption drive cannot be static. Hence, what has I.C.P.C. achieved with the committees purportedly set up over the years? Since its establishment, I.C.P.C recorded only 15 convictions compared to the records of E.F.C.C. Beside, there has been persistent calls that I.C.P.C. and E.F.C.C. should be merged. Maybe the time for the merger of the two commissions has come now.
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