The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has analysed its guidelines on arrest, bail and processing of suspects.
The review highlighted the need to adhere to the rule of law and international best practices in the treatment of suspects and it was released on Monday, October 31, across all its Commands Nationwide.
The Commission revealed this news via a tweet posted on its X handle on Wednesday, November 1.
The post read:
“In the new regulation, key attention is focused on the rights of suspects, particularly where arrest, detention and bail issues are issues of concern.
“Operational activities are to be adjusted towards applicable provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2011 and the EFCC’s Standard Operating Procedures—SOP.
“Operatives of the Commission are not permitted to ask for professional certificates of sureties as a bail requirement.
Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, the Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, had warned that “bail conditions served on suspects must be sensible and practicable to be fulfilled by suspects and their guarantors.”
The guideline had also revealed that the detention of suspects without a Remand Warrant for an illogical length of time beyond the constitutionally allowed period was forthwith cancelled”.
Another guideline revealed that officers of the Commission were prohibited from unwarranted breach of the rights of suspects.
Lastly, Tahir called for professionalism in all operational activities, adding that it was now time to have an exemplar shift and adjust the narrative.
“Henceforth, professionalism will be the watchword. Let’s follow the superior international standards worth our image as a foremost law enforcement agency”. He concluded.
