3rd June, 2015
When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2012 took the bold step to arrest and prosecute suspected fraudulent petroleum marketers, the general impression was that justice had finally caught up with oil marketers who had over the years continued to make fraudulent claims from the nation’s fuel subsidy scheme. Three years down the line, no significant progress has been made by the EFCC to successfully prosecute those arrested.
Over N200 billion was reportedly stolen by oil marketers who found very convenient ways to sabotage the fuel subsidy scheme established by government to ease the impact of high petroleum product prices on the masses. The ugly trend had been going on for years until the EFCC decided to go after the cabal who had stolen the nation’s resources. Revelations after several of them were arrested showed that many of the oil marketers made fraudulent claims for products not imported. With the connivance of relevant agencies charged with the disbursement of the subsidy fund, many of the marketers collected huge sums of money for products they did not import. Some even engaged in round tripping.
After the arrest of the suspected criminals, among them very prominent Nigerians and children of big politicians, the EFCC promised that they would be promptly prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others. True to its words, no long after the arrest, the suspected marketers were arraignment before various courts in Lagos State. The arraignments attracted headlines and the hope of Nigerians was that justice would be done. But findings revealed that little progress has been made in that direction.
The cases in various courts have suffered various adjournments since their commencement. While the EFCC may not be directly responsible for adjournment of the cases in the court, there are indications that the commission has been handling the matters shoddily. Just recently the commission decided to amend the various charges already filed in the courts. The implication of that action is that all the matters would have to start afresh. This is highly condemnable and an unnecessary waste of the nation’s resources.
As the President Muhammadu Buhari administration settles down to work, we believe that the EFCC must be overhauled with a view to ensuring that all those standing trial like the suspected fuel subsidy thieves are properly prosecuted. The EFCC as an agency of government should stop playing to the gallery by merely arresting and arraigning suspected criminals. Those standing trials must be properly prosecuted and convicted if found guilty. As had been earlier advocated, a special court should be set up to try cases of such nature so as to get expeditous result.
The judicial system must also begin to step up its game by making sure that cases involving corruption are promptly dispensed with. A situation where unnecessarily long adjournments are granted in cases is not acceptable and must stop.