By Our Correspondent
Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has warned lawyers against writing frivolous petitions against judges and personnel of anti-corruption agencies.
Chairman of the commission, Musa Aliyu gave the advice on Monday when members of the National Litigation Committee, NLT, of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, paid him a visit in Abuja.
Aliyu noted that unnecessary petitions against judges and officers discourage those who are “working hard” to fight corruption in the country.
“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 said.
The anti-corruption boss said appropriate professional measures should be explored in resolving issues arising between lawyers and anti-corruption officers in the course of investigations and litigations.
He asked the NBA to always draw the attention of the commission to any issue involving their operation.
“In ICPC, there is no harassment of lawyers. We ensure that the rights of lawyers are protected and also tbat of our officers in the cause of their duties.
“We, at ICPC, we try our best to see that we protect the rights of suspects and their lawyers.
“Since I came in here as chairman, I have not received any complaint of lawyers being harassed by officers of the commission.”
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the NBA committee, Vincent Otaokpokpu said the visit was to brief the ICPC boss about the responsibilities of the committee.
Otaokpokpu said the committee was inaugurated by the current leadership of the NBA to protect the rights of lawyers while doing their jobs.
