The head of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Professor Henry Joko Smart has reacted to wide spread speculation that the new government headed by President Ernest Bai Koroma has asked him to resign.
Speaking to Awoko in an exclusive interview, the Commissioner explained “I have had a meeting with the President but it has nothing to do with resignation we only discussed issues. He has not asked me to resign.”
Professor Joko Smart rhetorically asked “what have I done?”
He went on “if they ask me (to resign) they will have to look at the Act.”
The Anti Corruption Act of 2000 section 2 sub section 5 states “a member of the Commission may resign his office by a written notice to the President and may be removed from office but only for inability to perform the functions of his office, whether arising from infirmity of body and mind or for stated misconduct”
Professor Joko Smart pointed out that this section of the Act is what they should consider if they want him to resign. He however added, “When the time comes I will resign voluntarily”.
Questioned on the thinking of President Koroma to separate the office of the Attorney General from the Minister of Justice since it is the view that this is why the prosecution of ACC cases takes a lot of time before being prosecuted or sometimes results in the accused being acquitted, Professor Joko Smart said even before he became the Commissioner of the ACC he has always advocated for that office to be separated.
The Minister of Justice Professor Joko-Smart said is a politician while the Attorney General is a professional man and learned in law.
If these offices are separated he went on they will have a separate view, and if they put the right person there then these offices will function effectively.