Posted by By Dedeigbo Ajayi on
The convener of Democratic Governance Monitoring Group, Akin Bayepade, has berated those using the media to criticise members of the House of Representatives.
The convener of Democratic Governance Monitoring Group, Akin Bayepade, has berated those using the media to criticise members of the House of Representatives.
Reacting to allegations that the leadership of the House inflated the amount used in purchasing vehicles for members, at a press conference, held in Lagos, Bayepade said: 'It would now appear that allegations of corruption have become so fashionable that those accused of wrongdoings could be subjected to trial and conviction in the media all in the bid to make our wobbling anti-corruption battle look biting and even more steaming than it was under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.'
The convener said his group was 'deeply concerned about an emerging pattern of media hype regarding anti-corruption crusade in recent times, which amounts to so much fuss without concrete ends.'
The group wondered why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have not taken steps to look at the allegations of corruption levelled against the leadership of the House of Representatives.
'One would expect that a proper trial of the accused person or persons in the law court after the conclusion of thorough investigations would be the right and proper thing to do,' he added.
Bayepade said since the lawmakers do not enjoy constitutional immunity, it is better the anti-corruption bodies investigate them, rather than leave them for trial and conviction in the media. The group maintained that the allegations of corruption levelled against the leadership of the House of Representatives had not been substantiated.