The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has cautioned members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) overwriting unnecessary and frivolous petitions against anti-corruption agencies and judges in the course of litigations.

The ICPC boss issued the caution on Monday when he played host to the Chairman and members of the National Litigation Committee (NLT) of the NBA at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.

According to Dr. Aliyu, “writing unnecessary petitions against officers of the Commission and Judges without concrete justification is not proper, as we are all colleagues and partners in the fight against corruption.”

He added that appropriate professional measures should be explored in resolving issues arising between lawyers and anti-corruption officers during investigations and litigations.

The chairman pointed out that writing frivolous petitions against judges and officers involved in the fight against corruption does not help matters, noting that it is not encouraging.

He assured his guests that, “in ICPC, there is no harassment of lawyers. We ensure that the rights of lawyers are protected, so also the rights of our officers in the cause of their duties.”
He, however, advised the NBA not to hesitate to draw the attention of the Commission whenever there are concerns, as ICPC is committed to looking into such issues objectively and addressing them accordingly.

He added that ICPC encourages mutual, professional respect and understanding in line with the law and called on the lawyers to extend the same courtesy to the officers whenever they have anything to do with the Commission.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Vincent Otaokpokpu, said that the Committee seeks to collaborate with the Commission on how to join forces against corruption while protecting the interests and rights of their members.

Otaokpokpu stated that “the committee was inaugurated and charged with the responsibilities of advocating for the rights of lawyers, assist in the promotion of the interest of lawyers, assist in the defense of lawyers who are subjected to one form of humiliation, harassment or the other by law enforcement agents.”

He, however, noted that the committee was not unaware of the challenges ICPC might be facing in terms of relating with the lawyers of corruption suspects, as some of them may tend to be overzealous in defending their clients