By Thompson Yamput
Prof. Nwoke Chijioke, former Vice President, ECOWAS Court of Justice, has strongly criticised the Press conference held by the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi.
Chijioke made the remarks while speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored in Lokoja .
The EFCC Chairman, Olu Kayode, during a media briefing on Tuesday vowel to resign if he could prosecute Bello, whim he accused of evading arrest, detention and prosecution.
The vice president,who denounced the EFCC boss’ approach, described it as “an unfair media trial.”
He said that the importance of discretion in such matters being handled by institutions of justice, like the EFCC, should conduct investigations discreetly without involving the media.
”The EFCC chairman’s press conference of Tuesday was really uncalled for. That is unfair trial. All these challenges are because of what I would call a media trial.
”An institution of justice should be in a position, especially when you are the investigator, carry out a discrete investigation. You do not need to involve the media.
”For example, the EFCC’s chairman interview yesterday was really, really uncalled for. It was uncalled for in the sense that you do not need to accord any privilege to Yahaya Bello.
”The law does not require the according or the giving of privileges to persons who are suspected of having committed an offense. That is one.
”Secondly, the law necessarily does not need, especially in situations of this nature. In corruption cases, you don’t necessarily need to make an arrest.
“You don’t need to bring into custody. Because more often than not, in corruption cases, they are determined by documentary evidence.
”If you make out a prima facie case and you have evidence to make out a prima facie case, why don’t you file a case in court and serve the accused person?,” he queried.
According to him, it is unfair hearing when the matter is first advertised or publicized.