Ayoola, Others Call for a Holistic Approach, New Strategies in Combating Corruption
A former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (Rtd), has stated that the fight against corruption needs a more holistic and deeply thought-out strategic approach than hitherto.
Ayoola, a former Justice of the Supreme Court said this last Thursday while speaking as the Chairman of the 2015 annual lecture of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors in Lagos.
The theme of the lecture was "Anti- Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra Territorial Application and Lessons for Business and Government Agencies".
Ayoola in his opening remarks urged the two anti-graft bodies Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to develop new strategies in combating corruption in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform the totality of the legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate a result- oriented fight against corruption and engender an inclusive and popular fight
According to him although Nigeria's perception to fight corruption is strong in sentiment and emotion it is abysmally weak in action.
He noted that the fight against corruption will take longer if we at all levels of society pay lip service to the fight against it.
"Government must realise that the modalities of criminality do not remain static.
"As the strategies of criminality become more sophisticated, agencies set up to fight such must keep up with whatever becomes a developing trend.
"Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform the totality of the legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption.
"This would help to facilitate result oriented fight against corruption and engender inclusive and popular fight,’’ he affirmed.
According to him, rather than citizens remaining weak and indifferent to corruption, they must enthusiastically participate in efforts to end graft.
"Nigeria’s perception of the fight against corruption is strong in sentiment and emotion but abysmally weak in action and commitment.
"As long as we, at all levels of society, pay lip service to the fight against corruption, it will take longer to rout it in our nation,’’ Ayoola observed.
The former Supreme Court judge, however, opposed the merger of the two bodies the Independent and Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also speaking, the guest lecturer, Professor Mariana Prado, backed the multiplicity of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, stressing that it would enhance their efficiency.
Prado, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, noted that multiplicity of institutions against corruption has paid off in Brazil and could be useful for a country like Nigeria.
According to her, though, it might be costly and appears to be a duplication of efforts; it could engender competition among the agencies to do a good job.
Prado also advocated for special courts to handle corruption cases, noting that such courts should however work hand in hand with regular courts in handling corruption cases to engender competition.
On his part, Chief Anthony Idigbe SAN, Senior Partner, PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors, said that there was a need to eliminate corruption and bribery in conducting business and public activities.
Idigbe noted that the fight against bribery and corruption by structured and purpose built legislation was now a global affair and must enjoy active participation from every jurisdiction.
Other speakers at the lecture, include the immediate past Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC ), Dr Suleyman Abdu Ndanusa, EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro SAN and Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki amongst others.
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Speakers Include: Dr Adewale Olawoyin, SAN, Mrs. Doyin