Dray
Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has strongly advocated for corruption convicts to be denied the privilege of state pardon. He believes such a move would act as a deterrent and enhance the fight against corruption.
Speaking at a roundtable event organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja, Fagbemi urged for a review of the constitution to prevent individuals found guilty of corruption from benefiting from the powers of “Prerogative of Mercy.”
He further advised law enforcement agencies to focus on thorough investigations before arresting or inviting suspects for questioning, warning against shoddy probes that result in “media trials.”
Fagbemi called on state attorneys general to prioritize justice over political sentiments or personal interests. He emphasized that legal opinions should be grounded in facts and not influenced by political allegiances, nepotism, or public sentiment.
In his final remarks, Fagbemi urged prosecutors to avoid inflating charges just to make headlines, advising them to focus on fewer charges with solid evidence to secure convictions. “If it’s two or three big cases a year, make them count,” he said.
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