DON'T SIGN IT — EFCC, Others Warn Buhari Against New Anti-Corruption Bill From NASS

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to decline assent to a new anti-graft bill dubbed the 'Proceeds of Crime Bill, 2019' sent to him by the National Assembly.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other anti-graft agencies opposing the bill said it seeks to establish a Proceeds of Crime Management Agency (POCMA), that arrogates exclusive powers to it on matters relating to civil forfeiture.

Daily Sun reported that on May 21, Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, sent a memo to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Finance, CBN Governor and Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service to quickly wade in and ensure they  make input into the bill before it is signed into law by president Buhari.

A source in the EFCC who spoke with the paper reportedly said the grounds of opposition to the new bill by anti-corruption agencies, especially EFCC, was because the proposed bill is meant to stifle its operations.

To buttress his position, he disclosed that Parts 1,11,111 of the bill restricts the powers relating to civil forfeiture to the proposed agency, POCMA and described the the proposal as unreasonable and unjustifiable.

Further, the EFCC source pointed out that section 157 renders null and void any provisions of the Act of some agencies, including EFCC, that are at variance with that of the proposed organisation.

“This section 157 elevates itself above all other relevant laws, including our Act, that of ICPC, Police, NDLEA, NAPTIP. It is as bad as that,” he noted.

Aside section 157, the source lamented that section 162, if allowed to exist, will erode a number of critical provisions of legislations of corruption agencies and stressed that the provisions that are facing threat of extinction are responsible for the achievements so far made by EFCC and other corruption agencies in assets tracing, recovery and prosecution of offenders.

He said: “In the United Kingdom and South Africa, an agency of similar nature was established.

“Today, it is either not in existence again or has been reduced significantly. resident Buhari wants the war on corruption fought on all sides, some people don’t want that to happen.

“That is why they are seeking to reduce the powers of EFCC.”