Why FG Lost High-Profile Cases – Falana
By Ogbolu George
Constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has revealed that the Federal Government was losing high-profile cases due to negligence and lack of cooperation between its ministry of justice and security agencies.
Last week, the Nigerian government lost cases to senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, former first lady, Patience Jonathan, former minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Justice Adeniyi Ademola.
Corruption fighting back
Speaking on Wednesday at the train-the-trainer programme in Lagos, the human rights activist said corruption was not fighting back and there was no basis for blaming the judiciary for the cases lost.
”It is my submission that the courts cannot be blamed for the official negligence as well as lack of inter-agency collaboration and coordination of the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases by the federal government.
”On some occasions, the State Security Service has refused to produce accused persons in court without any reason whatsoever. The development has led to the unnecessary delay in the prosecution of very serious corruption cases,” he said.
War against corruption
Falana also said for the Federal Government to have some success in its war against corruption, it has to make some sacrifices.
”It is obvious that the federal government wants to eat omelet without breaking eggs. It won’t work. Was it not because the accused persons had put together teams of senior and experienced lawyers that the federal government decided to set up a national prosecution agency?
”But as no fund was made available to the agency, corruption cases have not been assigned to the members of the agency. With the virtual collapse of the agency, the anti graft agencies have been left on their own,” he noted.
