Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has advocated for tougher measures against corruption, proposing that individuals convicted of corruption should be barred from receiving state pardons. This recommendation was made during a roundtable event organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for state Attorneys General in Abuja.
Fagbemi suggested that the exclusion of corruption convicts from the “Prerogative of Mercy” should be considered in future constitutional revisions, arguing that this would act as a strong deterrent against corrupt practices. He emphasized the essential role of state Attorneys General in combating corruption and urged them to remain impartial and free from political or personal biases in their pursuit of justice.
The AGF highlighted the importance of due process, advising law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigations before summoning suspects. He warned against filing inflated charges or hastily presenting cases to the media without concrete evidence, advocating instead for a focus on fewer but well-substantiated charges.
Fagbemi also cautioned against allowing public sentiment to influence legal decisions, stressing the need for a fact-based and professional approach to handling corruption cases, in line with international best practices.
