EFCC Releases New ‘Operational Guidelines’, ‘Rules Of Engagement’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , has reviewed guidelines for its operations especially the arrest, bail and processing of suspects.
The review was as a result of the need to adhere to the rule of law and international best practices in the treatment of suspects.
The anti-graft agency noted that this has been released to zonal Commands on Monday, October 31, 2023.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Commission disclosed this on X on Wednesday.
‘In the new guideline, premium attention is focused on the rights of suspects, especially where arrest, detention and bail issues are concerned.
Operational activities are to be tailored towards relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2011 and the EFCC’s Standard Operating Procedures, SOP.
Specifically, officers of the Commission are not allowed to demand professional certificates of sureties as a bail condition.
Also, every demand for international passports of suspects would henceforth be exercised with discretion, depending on the nature of the case, personality and country of residence of the suspect.
Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, cautioned that ‘bail conditions served on suspects must be reasonable and practicable to be fulfilled by suspects and their sureties.
Detention of suspects without a Remand Warrant for unreasonable length of time beyond the constitutionally allowed period must henceforth stop forthwith.
Officers of the Commission are also warned against unwarranted violations of the rights of suspects.
Tahir called for professionalism in all operational activities, stressing that ‘it is time to have a paradigm shift and change the narrative. Henceforth, professionalism shall be the watchword. Let’s follow the best international standards worth our identity as a flagship law enforcement agency’ the anti-graft agency submitted.
In the meanwhile, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede , has directed that no one among the anti-graft agency’s officers should henceforth raid residence of any citizen during night-time hours.
Recall that EFCC officers had raided hostels that are occupied by students at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun state in the early hours of Wednesday and over 70 people were reportedly arrested.
‘Already, many of the suspects duly profiled by the command have been released, while profiling of suspects yet unreleased will be completed, without further delay.
The commission wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its adherence to the rule of law, in the exercise of its mandate’ spokesman for EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, submitted-Team@orientactualmags.com
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