The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday directed its operatives to stop sting operations at night.
The Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, announced the new directive in Abuja, according to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s spokesperson.
The order was given in reaction to the raid of off-campus hostels of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife by operatives of the agency.
About 69 suspects were arrested during the raid for fraud-related offences.
According to reports, the officials broke into the hostels with hammers and has since generated mixed reactions on social media as the institution’s students demand the release of their arrested mates.
The EFCC also announced a review of its arrest and bail procedure to “adhere to the rule of law and international best practices in the treatment of suspects.”
Moreso, the anti-graft agency barred the detention of suspects beyond the constitutionally allowed period without a remand warrant.
The Commission directed operatives to ensure “premium attention is focused on the rights of suspects, especially where arrest, detention and bail issues are concerned.”
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The agency further ordered its officers against demanding “professional certificates of sureties as a bail condition.
“Every demand for international passports of suspects would henceforth be exercised with discretion, depending on the nature of the case, personality and country of residence of the suspect.
“Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, cautioned that, ‘bail conditions served on suspects must be reasonable and practicable to be fulfilled by suspects and their sureties.
“Detention of suspects without a Remand Warrant for unreasonable length of time beyond the constitutionally allowed period must henceforth stop forthwith.”
The statement added that, “Officers of the Commission are also warned against unwarranted violation of rights of suspects.
“It is time to have a paradigm shift and change the narrative. Henceforth, professionalism shall be the watchword. Let’s follow the best international standards worth our identity as a flagship law enforcement agency.”
According to the statement, suspects arrested in the raid on the OAU off-campus hostels who have been “duly profiled” have been released by the commission.
