The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has tasked the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against frivolous exparte applications of lawyers, which often affect the operations of the Commission.
Making the appeal on Monday, August 24, 2020, was the Kano zonal head of the EFCC, Sanusi Aliyu Mohammed, when the leadership of the Kano Branch of the NBA paid him a courtesy visit.
He noted that much as it is the constitutional right of lawyers to defend their clients, some counsels usually employ exparte applications they know lack merit, just to stagnate prosecutorial efforts of the Commission.
The Kano Branch of the NBA, led by its chairman, Aminu Sani Gadanya, had come on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Kano zonal office, seeking partnership with the EFCC towards the improvement of justice delivery system in the country.
Gadanya, disclosed that one of his main objectives as NBA chairman was to have partnership with critical stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice, among which is the EFCC.
In his words, “When we came on board, we resolved that there is need for us to pay courtesy calls on some selected stakeholders in the administration of justice. In that resolution, we identified EFCC as one of the biggest stakeholders in the administration of justice.”
While recognising the critical role of the EFCC in justice administration, he said, “We are here to urge you to extend the support you gave the past NBA administrations over the years to the new NBA.”
The support, Gadanya, said, would see to joint sensitisation seminars and workshops by the NBA and the EFCC.
In his response, Mohammed assured the NBA executives of the Commission’s cooperation and partnership, noting that “the Kano zonal office is ready to work and partner with you and whatever cooperation the NBA has been enjoying, prior to my assumption of office, will not only be sustained but will be improved. It will improve because it is necessary that we work harmoniously together.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
