EFCC need ‘staunch, Ogbologbo’ lawyers to win cases – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was losing cases because it lacks “staunch ogbologbo lawyers.”
Obasanjo said rather than employ competent lawyers, the anti-graft agency goes for outsiders.

The former President, who made the remark in Abeokuta, Ogun State was reacting to a charge by President Muhammadu Buhari to the anti-graft agency to stop losing cases.

According to Obasanjo, “I was reading today when the President (Muhammadu Buhari) said the EFCC should stop losing cases. They lose cases for a number of reasons.

“One, they engage more of outside lawyers. I believe that they need staunch, `ogbologbo’ lawyers inside that will do the work.

“If I am a lawyer and I want the opponent to win a case, what I will file will be `wishy washy’. And if I file a `wishy washy’ case, the opponent will see the loophole and he will get out of it. I believe that it is important.

“Secondly, thorough investigation is very important. Now, investigation must be thorough, it must be proper and it must be really taken seriously.

“Third, our judges must be committed in fighting corruption.

“They must be committed to fighting corruption. Because if the investigation is very sound and you have `ogbologbo’ lawyer to handle the case, if you have Salamigate, you know what the answer will be.

“So it is a line: investigation, prosecution and the judiciary. If there is weakness along this line, chances are that corruption cases will continue to be lost. “