The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has urged State Attorneys General (AGs) to avoid nepotism, political witch-hunting, rivalry, and bigotry in their efforts to combat corruption, warning against prioritizing the interests of their governors over justice.
Fagbemi made this statement during a roundtable meeting organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for state AGs on Monday in Abuja.
He also emphasized that individuals convicted of corruption should not be granted state pardons.
In a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity for the minister, Fagbemi called for the collaboration of all stakeholders, particularly the AGs, in the fight against corruption.
He suggested that in the next constitutional review, individuals convicted of corruption should be excluded from benefiting from the “Prerogative of Mercy” as a deterrent.
“Legal opinions should be grounded in facts, as practiced in advanced countries. We must not allow public sentiment or political divides to influence our decisions,” Fagbemi added.
He also underscored the need for anti-corruption agencies to avoid media trials by conducting thorough investigations before making arrests, advising that proper evidence should be gathered before summoning suspects.
