GOMBE – Mr Osita Nwajah, Director of Public Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday said the commission had secured no fewer than 800 conviction of offenders since its inception in 2003.
Nwajah made this known when he visited the Correspondent Chapel of the Gombe council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) in its secretariat.
He did not, however, disclosed the number of cases prosecuted by the commission during the period.
He described the “scorecard” of the commission on the convictions as “world record”, saying that such had not been recorded in any part of the globe.
He attributed the development to a “very quiet and effective approach to law enforcement”.
Nwajah lauded the courts for being “very cooperative in the course of fighting corruption”, saying that it was the courts that gave EFCC the success.
“But I can say, those convictions should be more, far more than what we have now.
“If we had such system that will outlaw the delay of a matter that can be dispose within three months, it would have been better.
“If we have that kind of provision in the Constitution, it will take care of everything; we will see speedy disposal.
“The prosecutor will know his fate likewise the society and the perpetrator,’’ he said.
In his contribution, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said a lot of people had misconception about plea bargain but stated that it was one of the best options produced by the legal system in the country lately.
“The situation in Nigeria courts today is one in which cases drag on endlessly.
“With plea bargain, you will be saving time, money, making recovery as well as achieving conviction.
“These four reasons are the major aim of criminal prosecution and if you can achieve it under a plea bargain arrangement, why will you subject yourself to trial in court that may end up achieving nothing,’’ he said. (NAN)