The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji on Tuesday, August 25 stated that Members of Parliament (MPs) are the weak link in the war against corruption.
The DPP blamed weak laws and a myriad of loopholes for frustrating efforts by his office to investigate and prosecute graft cases.
Haji asked Parliament to review the existing laws in a bid to seal the loopholes to help make the prosecution of graft cases full-proof.
The DPP also faulted the manner in which the prosecution of corruption cases is handled, terming it a long winding process.
"I cannot prosecute anything based on our reports. We still have to take it to an investigating authority, whether it is the EACC or the National Police Service, for me to be able to prosecute," Haji lamented.
He said suspects use the loopholes in the law to evade investigation and prosecution for graft cases. One common strategy he mentioned was use of court injunctions to thwart prosecutions.
The DPP stated that at least nine governors who had been removed from office in relation to graft cases managed to maintain their seats after obtaining court injunctions.
He accused MPs of prioritizing their individual interests over the war against corruption.
"If parliament was able to demand, both the senate and the national assembly, if it was able to demand that such individuals step aside then we would not see that problem," he reiterated.
Haji also poked holes at the parliamentary committees for having integrity issues, which affects the establishment of new laws and reviewing the existing laws.
