The Senate yesterday moved to review the Acts establishing the anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

The upper legislative chamber subsequently warned all anti-corruption agencies to henceforth operate independently without any external influence in order to avoid being viewed as an instrument for political witch-hunt, and directed its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to review all laws relating to economic/financial crimes and corruption, towards achieving speedy dispensation of justice.

The move followed a motion entitled, “The need for Legislative Support to Government’s Anti-corruption Drive”, sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South.

The Senate also directed its standing committees on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, and Drugs and Narcotics, to liaise with the anti-graft bodies, “namely EFCC and ICPC on how the legislature can best support them to deliver effectively on their mandate”.

The upper legislative chamber also resolved that it would provide Nigerian flags for all senators on Tuesday to demonstrate their commitment and patriotism in the fight against corruption.

The Senate was of the opinion that while the attention of the anti-graft agencies is focused on political office holders, civil servants, especially those in the ranks of Permanent Secretaries and Directors “siphon what they have looted abroad and dump the funds into foreign banks”.