Adebisi Ogundipe, a Lagos-based lawyer, was installed the Agba Akin by the Adagba of Iyanfoworogi in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Ogundipe speaks on the ongoing anti-corruption battle, urging lawyers to join the crusade. ROBERT EGBE met him.
The judiciary seems not to be playing the roles expected of it in the anti-corruption war. Isn’t this worrisome?
Every Nigerian should have that apprehension. But, I want to believe that the law is certain. There are enough provisions in our laws to take care of corruption matters. What we need now is the commitment of all Nigerians and not just the lawyers to ensure that corruption cases are initiated and prosecuted to the fullest. What lawyers would always insist on is that the proceedings must follow the dictates of the rule of law. Lawyers won’t say that because we are fighting corruption and tolerate impunity all through. If we allow this, then we are sliding back into the old era of recklessness in using the law. I believe that all lawyers, both junior and senior lawyers are committed to the fight against corruption because corruption is the only thing that has bogged down development of this country. It has frustrated, stifled the socio-economic development of the country. And that also affects lawyers.
Many are pushing for the establishment of special courts for electoral offences and financial crimes. Do you think this is necessary?
I subscribe to the establishment of those courts. We already have a special court in the election petitions tribunal. And their assignments are time-bound. They have to take specific actions within a given period. And the law is strict. The same should happen on corruption matters.
What role should the rule of law play in the crusade? Not a few believe it is slowing down the process.
The rule of law issue is fantastic but what has happened in Nigeria shows clearly that many people, especially the elite don’t actually believe in it. Many of them – both in private and public sectors – have not conducted themselves properly. I specifically mentiond the private sector because we’ll be fooling ourselves to think that corruption thrives only in the public sector. The private sector is an active collaborator in corrupt practices. Many companies have been ruined because of sharp practices of some private sector operators. So, the private sector is as guilty as the public sector.
What role should Nigerians play?
The solution is for us to go back to those old values that emphasise sincerity, civility, decency, honesty and service. If we fail to do this, we might not get it right as a nation. And that also means that the law as it is now, must be reworked because of the fundamental human rights issue. A lot of people hide under this clause to frustrate the system. It is the responsibility of lawyers and every good citizen to stand up and arrest this debacle.
The opposition says the war against corruption is targeted at political enemies. Is the anti-corruption war really selective?
I don’t subscribe to that claim. I believe the law has no regard for any person. It is to protect every law-abiding citizen. If you have not violated any law, nobody can come after you or arrest you because there are procedures and there are special sections of the law for this purpose. So, to say that the crusade is targeted at political opponents is being encouraged economical with the truth. That is not the issue and I completely disagree with those holding such views.
The euphoria that greeted the election of President Muhammadu Buhari is waning. What is responsible for this frustration?
My advice to Nigerians is that we should exercise a lot of patience. It is easy to destroy but very difficult and complex to build. We are talking about a government that came on board less than a year ago. We know the price of oil under the previous admini-strations and we know what it is today. We also know that Nigeria runs a mono-product economy. The Buhari administration is just settling down to lay a good foundation. The admini-stration has immense resources (human and material). What we had in the past is that the selfish individuals were in charge of the economy, those with genuine interest to serve were never allowed. But, we now have what we can call our First Eleven assembled with the President as the captain. I feel this team should be given the opportunity to rebuild the system from its base that had suffered eternal collapse over the years. The result of misgovernance and executive nativity is confronting the country today. The spendthrift attitude, the recklessness and the overbearing power of those who believed that power is for nothing but self aggrandisement, those are the people who held this country hostage and in shackles for years. But we have a different people at the helms now, we must give them the opportunity to lay a solid foundation and rebuild the economy. With time, the people’s confidence will be restored in governance.
What is your chieftaincy title all about?
I am being honoured with the Agba Akin of Iyanfoworogi chieftaincy title. Iyanfoworogi is a town in Ife kingdom, made up of 23 communities. Obama Adebolu Fatunmise, the Adagba of Iyanfoworogi is installing me as the first Agba Akin. By the title, I will be advising the council of chiefs and indigenes of the communities on developmental issues and cultural promotion. As an ambassador of culture, I will use my position to promote not just Ife culture but the culture of the York back race. I will partner with all cultural icons including the Ooni of Ife, Obama Enitan Ogunwusi in his drive to restore the pride of Yoruba land. I see the honour as a call to service and not for personal aggrandisement.
