Reviews bail terms
In line with international practices, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stopped arbitrary seizure of international passports of suspects under investigation.
According to a statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC directed its entire staff to exercise discretion in demanding suspects passports. The EFCC asked all its operatives to stop the blanket seizure of international passports of suspects and the imposition of difficult bail conditions.
The Commission also said no more blanket arrest and detention of suspects. It also directed its staff to ask for reasonable and practicable bail conditions from suspects and their sureties.
The statement said the anti-graft Commission rolled out new conditions following the review of its guidelines on arrest, bail and processing of suspects.
The EFCC said its procedure will henceforth be in line with international best practices, the 1999 Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2011 and its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
The statement said: The review, which is premised on the need to adhere to the rule of law and international best practices in the treatment of suspects, was rolled out on Monday, October 31, 2023, across all its Commands.
