The Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption led by Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) has called on the National Assembly to pass the various anti-corruption bills pending before it.

Executive Secretary of the committee, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye made the call on the sideline of a one-day conference on Financial System Integrity Improvement.

Owasanoye said the process of passing the bills have been slow.

He said the Buhari administration had been able to get the National Assembly to pass the Mutual Legal Assistance law.

He said, “They have passed the Mutual Legal Assistance law, which is to facilitate and improve the exchange of information and evidence between states. The House of Representatives passed the Proceeds of Crime Act. It is going through motions in the Senate.

“But, we’ll admit that the process is very slow. This is with regard, in particular, to certain key legislations such as Proceeds of Crime, Witness Protection, Whistleblower, Crime Data Register and Money Laundering bills which have been hanging there.

“So, there is no doubt that there is merit in the criticism that pro-anti-corruption bills are not moving as quickly as we would love to see them move.

“We would wish to see faster processing of such legislations. But at the same time, that is not necessarily to compromise quality or standards.

“We’ll like to see also the Special Crimes Court Bill passed expeditiously, so that this would help improve the fight against corruption. The bill is before the National Assembly.”