SERAP: Buhari’s War on Corruption is on Track
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has said that the nation’s anticorruption war is on the right footing, despite claims in some quarters that the anti-graft war was selective.
The Executive Director of SERAP, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, said this last Wednesday at the launch of SERAP’s latest report titled, “Combating Grand Corruption: An Agenda for Institutional Reforms in Anti-Corruption Strategies”.
Mumuni said going by what he had seen and heard, the war against corruption is on track, adding that until Buhari came along, nobody knew how the country’s money was being stolen.
“This is my professional opinion as a lawyer and social rights campaigner. I believe that the war against corruption by this administration is on track.
“Until Buhari came along, nobody knew how much of our money was being stolen, especially in the guise of buying weapons to combat insurgency.
“So, it does not really matter if you belong to the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples Democratic Party; if you cannot account for over 2 billion dollars, then you deserve to face prosecution”, he said.
Also speaking at the launch, Justice Agwadza William Atedzeol of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), queried the use of public funds to buy vehicles for politicians, and urged SERAP to research the issues to see how best to reconcile the social and cultural values of the country.
Justice Atedzeol, who represented the Chairman of the CCT, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar at the Report Launch, commended SERAP for publishing the report, which he said was published under a project to promote justice sector and anti-corruption oversight mechanism reform, which SERAP is undertaking in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA.
Chairman of the Report Launch, Hon. Babatunde Ogala, said Nigerians have now seen corruption as a way of life, adding that changing the national orientation of the people, can curb it.
Ogala, who is a former Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, also said the EFCC ought to have offices at the local government level.
“The EFCC ought to have offices even at the local government level. The society itself, encourages and invests in corruption. As a legislator, I was constantly measured by what I did for individuals, and not by the amount of law making I engaged in”, he added.
he report contains several recommendations among which is the call to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, to “ensure that all judges fully utilise the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in the hearing of grand corruption cases before them".
The report amongst other recommendations, also urged Hon. Justice Onnoghen to “ensure that judges, in situations where the ACJA rules apply, are made to follow the dictates of these innovative statutory interventions or face disciplinary action, and to incorporate into ongoing judicial trainings these crucial statutes and procedures, as well as include the ACJA as part of the mandatory continuing legal education for all judges in Nigeria.
“The Chief Justice and all other judges, should also periodically disclose and publish their assets. The Chief Justice should promote full independence for the National Judicial Council, including allowing retired judges of proven integrity, to lead the council.
“Corruption is a threat to democracy. It erodes confidence in and respect for democratic institutions and emerges as an obstacle to social, economic and human development. The fight against corruption is therefore, crucial to achieve economic development and stability.
“Anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria generally have not met widespread expectations, mainly because of lack of political will of those in government to fight grand corruption; absence of an over-all national anti-graft strategy; inadequate legal framework and resources and/or lack of full and effective implementation of new initiatives; limited independence and public trust; lack of an enabling climate and necessary know-how, and lack of basic ethical values.
“Anti-graft agencies should seek stiffer penalties for convicted corrupt officials, and minimise the use of plea bargaining, to serve as a deterrent; and the judiciary at all levels should assume leadership in this regard.
“The Government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, should instruct the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to urgently ensure the full and effective implementation and enforcement of the Practice Directions on Serious Crimes, 2013, and the ACJA Act 2015, in all courts and tribunals handling cases of grand corruption, to ensure that stalling of prosecution by defence lawyers becomes history.
“The Government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, should reform the anti-graft agencies in Nigeria, with a view to granting them independence, freedom of action and adequate resources, so that they can carry out their mandates effectively.
“The Government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, should instruct anti-corruption agencies to urgently publish reports of their investigations into the allegations of budget padding by the leadership of the National Assembly, and to prosecute anyone suspected to be involved in grand corruption. President Buhari and Acting President Osinbajo, should also ensure adequate protection for the Whistle-blower Abdulmumin Jibrin”, the report stated.