Securing administrative bail of suspects in custody is free, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says.
The Acting Commander of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Commission, ACE I Halima Mustafa Rufa’u, made this known on Wednesday when she received in her office, Executive Committee members of the Ibadan Branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its Chairman, Folashade Aladeniyi.
According to a statement by EFCC’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the Acting Zonal Commander maintained that the Commission does not charge any fee from lawyers or family members of detained suspects before releasing them on bail.
However, she warned lawyers to desist from standing as “surety” and legal representatives to suspects simultaneously.
She said that such an act does not portray the legal profession in good light and could not only get them into trouble.
“In the event, the suspect was released and later jumps administrative bail, the Commission will have no choice than to arrest the lawyer first, before going after other sureties,” ACE Rufa’u warned.
She further noted that the visit would strengthen the existing collaboration and synergy between the two institutions.
In her remark, the Chairman of the committee, Folashade Aladeniyi, commended the Ibadan Zonal Command for its efforts in curbing cybercrime and related fraud activities in Oyo State.
“I want to commend the Ibadan Zonal Command and the EFCC at large for its activities towards curbing economic and financial crimes, especially cybercrime in the country. This is evident in the statistics of convictions secured by the Commission over the years”, she stated.
While appealing to the Zonal Commander to protect the rights of suspects in detention by ensuring their quick release, she also called for an investigation into the activities of politically exposed persons accused of corruption in the State.
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