The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has firmly stated that individuals convicted of corruption should not be granted state pardons. He emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigations and have substantial evidence before summoning individuals for questioning.
In a statement released on Monday by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the AGF, Fagbemi stressed that the fight against corruption requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly state attorneys general. He made these remarks during a roundtable organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja.
Fagbemi suggested that in future constitutional reviews, provisions allowing those found guilty of corruption to benefit from the powers of “prerogative of mercy” should be removed to serve as a deterrent. This recommendation comes in the wake of past instances where convicted officials, such as former governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, were granted pardons by the Federal Government during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Similarly, former President Goodluck Jonathan had granted a pardon to his political ally, ex-Bayelsa State Governor Dipreye Alamieyeseigha, who was also convicted of corruption.
Fagbemi also urged state attorneys general to avoid nepotism, political witch-hunting, and rivalry in their efforts to combat corruption, insisting that legal opinions should be based on facts rather than public sentiment. He advised anti-graft agencies to avoid conducting media trials and filing excessive charges, urging them to focus on solid, well-prepared cases.
“Let us be thorough and take our time before inviting someone for questioning. Don’t do a shoddy job and be quick to say we have caught a big fish…You will catch a big fish. If it is two or three big fishes you are able to get in a year and you are thorough, it is alright,” Fagbemi stated. He also cautioned against filing numerous counts in charges, recommending that fewer, well-substantiated charges would be more effective in securing convictions.
