House Of Reps Members Move To Cripple & Overhaul The Operation Of The EFCC, Bill Scales Second Reading

A bill seeking to overhaul the operation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday scaled through to the second reading in the House of Representatives despite resentment by members.

The bill, one of the 20 bills lined up in on the Order Paper for second reading, was sponsored by Rep. Ossai N. Ossai (PDP, Delta), who informed the House that eight different sections of the Principal Act are to be affected by his amendment proposal.

The House members were in a quick move to overhaul the operations of the anti-graft agency . Representative Ossai listed sections 2 (1) (a), 2 (1), 13, 14 (1), 15 (1) (2) (3), 16, 30 and 15, which, according to the sponsor, are aimed at “adding value to the commission” in its activities. He said professional bodies like NBA and ICAN are to be integrated into the graft agency to be offering guidance, as “EFCC is being criticized in the way they arraign suspects.

He said “the restructuring of the commission” will also entails the establishment of operation review committee, akin to the National Council of State, for advices. But soon after his lead debate, Rep Umar Bago (APC, Niger) said crime investigation globally is a police affair, which implies the need for training and re-training to the officers instead of the litany of innovations. Rep Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) said incorporating bodies into the operation of the anti-graft agency will undermine its activities, as bodies like NBA is becoming more political than professional nowadays.

House leader, Rep Femi Gabajabiamila, on his part, said all the proposed amendments in the eight sections only seek to cripple the operation of the commission, rather than strengthen it.

All the lawmakers that spoke called for the rejection of the bill, but minority leader, Rep Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) advocated that grey areas be thrashed at the committee level.

Daily Trust reports that, When the speaker, Yakubu Dogara put the bill to vote, those who shouted against its passage outnumber those in support, but the speaker passed it into second reading. He then referred it to the financial crimes committee for legislative works, including a public hearing on the proposed amendments.