AGF Fagbemi Advises State AGs On Fight Against Corruption

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has advised State Attorneys General (AGs) to eschew nepotism, political witch-hunting, rivalry, and bigotry in the fight against corruption just because they want to please their governors.

Fagbemi gave the advice at a roundtable meeting organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, for state AGs, on Monday in Abuja.

He also said that those found guilty of corruption should not get State pardon.

In a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity, office of the minister, Fagbemi solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the AGs in the fight against corruption.

“I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘Prerogative of Mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

“Your legal opinions on cases must be based on facts as practised in advanced countries.

“We should not give in to public sentiments as in Nigeria, we are polarised along political lines,’’ he said.

The AGF also stressed that there should be no basis for rationalising corruption or crimes in the country.

He advised anti-graft agencies to conduct thorough investigations of cases before arresting suspects to avoid media trials.

The minister urged the agencies to get their facts before summoning anyone for questioning.