AFBA President: Government must Shun Selectivity in order to Win Anti-Corruption Fight

The African Bar Association (AFBA) has lent its voice to the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration, urging the President to shun selectivity, if the fight must be won.

The President of the Association, Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo, said even though he can give a good mark to the Government for the anti-corruption fight, there are so many areas where they are failing.

In a chat with journalists in Lagos, Uwaifo said it is true that a lot of the members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) have not been touched, adding that the National Chairman of the ruling party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has a mountain of petitions against him.

The AFBA President called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to sweep under the carpet, the corruption allegations against Oshiomhole, if the Government is very serious about winning the fight.

“On the anti-corruption fight, yes, we have seen few Governors go to prison for their past misdeeds, but, the system is too slow. And I want to say is that, Nigerians also encourage it. We need to understand that, corruption is inimical to the development of the country, and if we don’t follow due process, we will never get out of the mess we are in. Is it not too much for the National Assembly to earmark N37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly, in a country where workers are demanding N30,000 minimum wage and the country says they cannot pay?

“Even though I can give a good mark to the Government for the anti-corruption fight, there are so many areas where they are failing. It is true that, a lot of the members of the ruling party have not been touched. The Chairman of the ruling APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has a mountain of petitions against him. Has he been summoned by EFCC, to answer to the petitions? Is it not a stain on Mr. President, to be harbouring a man who petitions have been written against?

“Those who are accusing the President of being selective, also have a point. The petitions are many. When I visited the EFCC Chairman last time, I mentioned it. If the Buhari Government says they are not selective, let the EFCC start the probe of the petition against Oshiomhole, the Chairman of the ruling party, and then we will know that they are very serious.

“We know that there are so many other cases, but this is the Chairman of a ruling party. Mr. Ibrahim Magu is one of the most effective EFCC Chairmen I have seen, in recent times. I give him kudos, but he can no longer continue to keep quiet over the petitions against Oshiomhole”, he said.

Also, speaking on Nigeria’s legal system, Uwaifo said the legal profession in Nigeria is passing through its lowest ebb.

According to him, the legal profession in Nigeria has not risen up to the challenges of modern day criminality, because a lot of the present day Lawyers are not vetted.

“The legal profession in Nigeria, is passing through its lowest ebb. We have Lawyers defrauding clients and forging affidavits, taking matters to clog the courts, swearing false affidavits for clients. Even senior advocates and senior Lawyers are involved.

“The legal profession has not risen up to the challenges of modern day criminality, because a lot of us who become Lawyers nowadays, are not vetted. We have people who went to night school, motor park touts, people who were bricklayers and drivers, people of shoddy character, all becoming Lawyers. The legal profession ought to raise its bar, with a view of checking these emerging trends.

“Of recent, the bad eggs in the judiciary are beginning to buckle up, because they are quite fewer than those who are good. My recommendation is that, the General Bar Council, with a view of arresting the emerging trend, will need to redo our rules of professional conduct, in such a way that it teaches you why you are picking up a case. That is how it is, in every country.

“I can’t see what I’m telling you happen in Zambia, South Africa or Lesotho. But, here, Lawyers commit all kinds of crime everyday, and we are not bothered. So, how do we want to get good Judges, because it is from Lawyers you get the Judges and some Lawyers become politicians?”, he added.

On electoral violence on the continent, Uwaifo described Nigeria as a bad example to other African countries.

He decried the chaotic nature in which campaigns were carried out; the chaotic nature in which primaries were conducted, adding that, these things put the country in a very bad light, in both the continent and the international community.

“Nigeria is not a good example for any country on the continent to follow, in terms of politics. We should be ashamed of ourselves and stop blabbing.

“We have not even finished sorting out the issues relating to the 2019 elections, and people already strategising for 2023 elections. Our position and part of our decisions, have been that the Judiciary is not the right place or competent organ to elect leaders for the country. It is the people, who elect their leaders. And therefore, judicial decisions must be done in such a way to reflect what the people want”, he noted.

He said AFBA was working on a blueprint to strengthen the judiciary, by ensuring that Judges’ appointments are based on merit.

The AFBA President urged the Nigerian government to domesticate the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, saying the continent has a lot to gain from the agreement.

“The African Bar is a member of the African Union, where we represent the legal profession in the African Union Trade in Services Council. The African Bar, is fully in support of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement; we believe that, great wealth will be unlocked when African countries trade among themselves. I will urge Nigeria to domesticate the treaty, and implement it. We must support it”, Uwaifo said.