The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anti-corruption

  • What if anti-corruption war is political?

    What if anti-corruption war is political?

    After observing the on-going anti-corruption crusade by the Buhari-led federal government, it strikes me to note that attitude-wise, Nigerians have neither grown up nor changed. We seem condemned to revolve in cycles. As it appears, it must be an unexciting task to lead this nation as president. For a long time, the consensus was that the biggest trouble with Nigeria was corruption. It was why our nationals were treated with suspicion in foreign countries. It was why certain financial services like Paypal were not available to us as a people. We did not exactly like the image it created about us and longed for a leader who would rescue us from its grip. It was in this situation that we elected Muhammadu Buhari to do for our nation what it seemed we could not do by ourselves. Few months into the task though, we have begun to cry foul.

    The newspapers and online media are awash daily with accusations and counter-accusations on the anti-corruption war. Many – especially those in the heat of the war – complain that the war is political. In other words, if they were not politicians or at least did not constitute any political threat to those in government, they would not have been under probe. This is a familiar argument in political circles irrespective of who is in power. While one should not be distracted by such anemic counter-claims, one should be disturbed by the divide that seems to exist on this matter even among ordinary Nigerians. When we join the politicians to complain that this war is political, what are we saying? Most of these arguments revolve around unimportant factors. They say for example, that if their political parties were the ones in power, they would not have been prosecuted. Their prosecution is therefore not because of what crimes they are alleged to have committed but a punishment for losing election. Sometimes they say they are not the only ones who embezzled public funds; there are others too who ought to be prosecuted.

    A clear analysis of these arguments would reveal that they are just the desperate attempts of a drowning man trying to save himself. To begin with, why does the war seem to focus more on politicians? It is because the sort of crimes alleged to have been committed could only have been committed by those who had access to political power. Outrageous contracts can only be awarded by those in political offices in charge of such. Public funds can only be diverted to private accounts by those who are entrusted with them. Secondly, would they have been “targeted” if they were not occupying or likely to occupy political office in the future? May be not, but it seems to be more logical and morally strategic to focus on such people. The damage already done to this country is so huge that it is a matter of emergency, even if it cannot be undone, for it to be avoided in future. And if people who caused such damage are still likely to access opportunities through which more harm may be done, they should be a priority in the war. Thirdly, they claim they would not have been investigated if their political parties were in power. And that is why Nigerians voted out their political parties so that room would be created for them to be held accountable. Fourthly, they claim that there are others too who ought to be prosecuted as well. That is correct, but is it their duty to dictate to the anti-corruption agencies what sequence to follow in the prosecution? Obviously not!

    On a general note, the war against corruption not only may be political, but should actually be political. These crimes are alleged to have been committed by those who had political privileges which they abused. The institutions that were manipulated are political institutions. They are using political means to escape prosecution. The anti-corruption agencies are established under the political authority of the Nigerian state. The laws they use are passed by politicians. We elected a politician as president to recover the loot and sanitise the institutions. And it will take great political will to do the job. Why then, do we pretend that the anti-corruption war should not be under some political influence?

    Let us be sincere as a people. If what we want is a reduction in corruption, then we must focus on the result and minimise these vain arguments that cripple – rather than strengthen – the war. If these guys did not compromise in the first place, who would be talking about what method to use in sanitising the corroded system?

     

    • Msonter, 400-Level Medicine and Surgery, BSU
  • Customs: Ali’s anti-corruption crusade faces litmus test

    Customs: Ali’s anti-corruption crusade faces litmus test

    The anti-corruption crusade of Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hamed Ali (rtd) is facing litmus test.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that some vehicles were released from the Lagos port about two weeks ago, without due process and stakeholders are waiting to see what Ali will do to those that committed the crime.

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation  Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos  seized 17 vehicles estimated at over N200 million.

    The vehicles, investigation revealed, are at the government warehouse in Ikeja.

    Will officers, importers and clearing agents involved be sacked or prosecuted as promised by Ali, to boost the anti-corruption campaign of the Federal Government and deter others? This is the question industry watchers, want Ali to answer in the next few weeks.

    The vehicles, it was gatherd, were seized by FOU officers, following the busting of a smuggling ring that specialised in importing vehicles through the seaports without paying the necessary duty.

    Officers who released the vehicles from the ports are now in trouble.

    A source said most of the vehicles, including new 2015 Toyota Camry and Prado, passed through the Lagos ports without paying the 70 per cent duty. They added that the importers and clearing agents declared the cargoes as used cars purportedly manufactured in 2004 and 2005 to deceive the Customs and short-change the Federal Government.

    The market value of the Prado Jeep, security sources said, is about N14 million and the importer was expected to pay N6 million duty on it . The importer, it was alleged, paid N1 million to get the vehicles out of the port.

    Some of the vehicles, sources alleged, have no Customs paper.

    The officers responsible for the release of the vehicles, it was gathered, may be sacked in the spirit of the anti-corruption stance of Ali.

    Some of the vehicles, a source said, were released from the port at night to beat security checks.

    It was learnt that some of the importers used number plates to beat Customs’ checks on the road. But, unknown to them, Customs officials from the FOU Zone ‘A’ had been monitoring their movement in Lagos for over 10 days before swooping on them.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Uche Ejesieme, confirmed that some new vehicles were intercepted by officers and men of the unit, but refused to mention the number and the value. The Customs headquarters had been briefed, he said.

    “The vehicles were intercepted by our officers following a tip-off. We are yet to determine the value of the vehicles because investigation is still on.

    “Our controller, Abdul, has urged smugglers in the Southwest to relocate or else they would face the full wrath of the law.

    “We have spread our dragnets to the nooks and crannies of our areas of jurisdiction and would not stop at dealing with the menace,” he assured.

    Ejesieme, who said the unit was complementing the efforts of other Customs commands in ensuring that there was total compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government on trade,  assured genuine and compliant importers of support. He stressed that the unit is committed to boosting legitimate trade in line with global best practice.

    Analysts, however, believe that bringing the offenders to book  may be the first litmus test of Ali‘s anti-corruption crusade.

    During his first official visit to Lagos, last week, Ali  vowed to deal with any officer found to engage in shady business at the ports. He promised not only to sack such officers but also ensure they were sent to jail in line with the provisions of the law.

     

     

  • Reggae musicians support FG’s anti-corruption agenda

    Reggae musicians support FG’s anti-corruption agenda

    Some Nigerian Reggae musicians have lent their support to the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government, promising to churn out quality music with enduring values.

    The musicians; Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki and Victor Essiet expressed their support when they visited the Lagos of office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

    “That’s what God created and still keep us alive till today for because we’re talking about corruption, looking at what we’ve been doing; you go back to every song that we’ve been singing.

    “We are the only voices and the governments were our enemies, we don’t take government as our enemies but we take them as people who take us for a ride.

    “In fact, when I see these people gather themselves in Abuja and give themselves awards, they don’t remember that they are the people that we’ve been fighting for years?

    “And they embrace themselves, they are happy saying I have served the nation, in what way? What we’ve done, we, Fela, what we’ve done in this country, and Majek, is a huge thing.

    “But today, who are the people that are benefiting?

    “We pounded South Africa with music, with everything, but today who are going to South Africa to shoot videos now?

    “We are the foundation that started to preach and talk about corruption and take on the authority, apart from Fela.’’

    Kimono flayed the quality of the music on the nation’s airwaves nowadays and the easy lifestyles of the artistes.

    “Some of them are playing Dancehall, when you play Dancehall and DJ, you talk about anything; profanity goes, drink goes, you can sing any jargon, it goes.

    “But when you are playing Reggae music, Reggae carries consciousness and the youth are afraid to even speak about consciousness.

    “Because they are afraid when you’re speaking consciousness you don’t make money, you are enemy to the authorities.

    “The youth of nowadays don’t wanna go through that, the youth of nowadays want money; they want all the good things of life.

    “If we follow that suit, yeah we will be making money; Reggae musicians we don’t make money, but we are not complaining, we still are content, whatever God gives us, we give thanks.

    “They want the good things; they want the fame, they want the drink, they want the women, everything on top gear, they want to live in highbrow places.

    “We live in the ghetto; we live in the neighbourhood where we see things happening every day.

    “Where you see that next door neighbour doesn’t have N50 to buy a loaf of bread, so we can say about it.

    “Not that we don’t want to live in Ajah or Lekki, but we want to live and see what people are going through and sing about it.”

    Wiliki, on his part, talked about the quality of music in Nigeria and the need to restore showmanship to performances.

    “And we realise that we are losing the values of the quality of music and contents, the past three four years, what has come out of our airwaves?

    “There are some that my kids, I wouldn’t allow them listen to and so there is a body saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring that good music fill our airwaves.

    “But you wonder what they are doing when you hear some music with -f -f words being played on our radio stations and so what they speak about are not inspiring to the soul.

    “And so we want to come out and say, now that things are going down, we want to take charge as the founding members to say no, children, this is the right way to go to mentor them in the art of showmanship.

    “Rather than calling DJ track one, track two, you must get a band; you must at least practice to play one or two instruments to be able to call yourself a musician because that is the only reason why you can last long.

    “If you are just a DJ track one, in one or two albums you are out and so we want to be able to teach them that when you come to live concert, people who come to live concert are looking for one thing, showmanship.”

    The trio are currently promoting their upcoming show, “Africa Meets Reggae International World Music Festival’’, which will hold in Lagos on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28.

    Essiet said that Reggae musicians first started the war against corruption and challenged the new ministers to justify their appointments.

    They also demanded national recognition for their musical contributions to the country’s development.

    NAN reports that more than 30 artistes from all over the world will perform at the festival.

    These include Burna Boy, Patoranking, Majek Fashek, Righteousman, Emma Grey, Pasuma, Oritsefemi, Tee-Mac and El Jay from the U.S.

  • Spanish envoy backs Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign

    Spanish envoy backs Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign

    The Spanish Government on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies, especially the anti-corruption campaign, were vital to attracting investment to Nigeria.

    The Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Alfonso Barnuevo, made the remark at a ceremony to mark the National Day of Spain in Abuja.

    Barnuevo explained that Nigeria-Spain relation was ‘’excellent’’, having strategic components from the security, economic and commercial points.

    “President Buhari and His Majesty, the King of Spain, held a meeting in New York on Sept. I, 2014, and I can only qualify the meeting as excellent for our relations.

    “His (King Felipe’s) message to us is that we want to work closely with the new administration and Spain will always be a friend of your country.

    “A solid and prosperous Nigeria is important to Spain; the political stability obtained after election will contribute to enhance the sustainable development and growth of Nigeria.

    “The government of Spain has picked confidence in the economic reforms of President Buhari and his anti-corruption campaign; solid policies are important to attract investors,” he said.

    The envoy explained that trade relations between Nigeria and Spain had continued to grow, pointing out that Spain was Nigeria’s ‘’second best customer’’.

    He said Spain’s interest in Nigeria included the oil and gas, agriculture and construction, adding that his country was fortunate to have economic and trade relations with Nigeria.

    “We bought, in 2014, 6.5 billion Euros of oil and gas; we can straight-forward say that Spain and Nigeria maintain strategic relation in this area,” he said.

    He, therefore described trade relation between both countries as “two-way mutually-satisfactory”.
    Barnuevo condemned Boko Haram attacks in the country, saying that Spain was ready to collaborate with Nigeria in the fight against the insurgents.

    “We are happy at the great stride Nigeria is making in the field of peace and stability and in the fight against Boko Haram.

    “This is a matter in which Nigeria can always count on the support of Spain. We in Spain have also suffered human terrorism for many years,” he said.

    He acknowledged Nigeria-Spain collaboration at the UN Security Council, saying the relationship was important in fighting terrorism and human trafficking.

    In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bukus Lolo, commended the Spanish Government and King Felipe for extension of hand of friendship to Buhari.
    He assured Spain and the international community that Buhari’s administration was determined to bring changes that would impact on the lives of Nigerians.

    “The promise that came with the campaigns and now that President Buhari is leading the government is one of bringing welfare to the people.

    “The promise is one of changing the lives of the people for good and also enabling Nigeria to assume and play her role not only in West Africa, Africa but the world,” he said.

  • Buhari’s anti-corruption effort inspiring, says Alaafin

    Buhari’s anti-corruption effort inspiring, says Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has called on Nigerians not to be unnecessarily apprehensive about the present administration, saying the era of  oligarchy and corruption-ridden governance is gone for good.

    Oba Adeyemi made this call after inspecting a mobile hospital van donated by two indegenes of Oyo, Honourable Bode Esuola and his wife, Dr. Anu Esuola, both resident in  Maryland, United States of America.

    Alaafin said good governance and accountability currently being witnessed in Nigeria are beacons of hope for the people. ‘’Until recently, lack of transparency, probity, and accountability in governance were major problems we had. But President Buhari’s victory, which was a victory for the people, brought about change in our government,” he said.

    The paramount ruler asserted that changing a government under which the people were unnecessarily and needlessly burdened over the years, peacefully through the ballot box, is a feat worthy of emulation by other countries in the West African sub-region.

    ‘’The track record of  the president and his commitment to democratic processes give hope that under his leadership, Nigerians will once more feel the impact of good and accountable governance,” he said.

    While praying that Allah should guide President Buhari and the people of the country, Oba Adeyemi was of the conviction that the integrity and honesty of the president will see him through the task of repositioning the country and ridding the polity of corruption.

    ‘’May Allah guide the president as he uses his wisdom and diligence to carry along all

    Nigerians, including those who did not vote for him, in order to achieve the common purpose of rebuilding a strong, motivated and united country that will exemplify leadership on the African continent,” the Monarch said.

  • PDP has launched counter-offensive against anti-corruption battle – APC

    PDP has launched counter-offensive against anti-corruption battle – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of openly launching a counter-offensive against the efforts of the Buhari Administration to rid the country of impunity and corruption.

    The party warned that the opposition party will fail in its attempt to take Nigerians back to Egypt.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, the ‘’Saturday’s press statement by the PDP is nothing but a thinly-veiled frontal assault on the relentless efforts of the Buhari Administration’s to clean the Augean stable of the last PDP federal government.’’

    He added, ‘’With its statement that is nothing but an unabashed support for impunity and corruption, as well as its major actors, the PDP has now confirmed itself as the official ‘poster boy’ for corruption in Nigeria.’’

    According to him, the long-winding sophistry about the rule of law, democracy and personal freedoms is aimed at couching the PDP’s abhorrence and disdain for the fight against corruption in democratic clichés, especially now that the battle is gradually hitting the PDP where it hurts.

    The party said that for the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary himself, the persistent onslaught against the Buhari Administration is neither altruistic nor informed by any belief in higher values, ‘’because the allegations of corruption hanging on his own neck, from within his own party, is a clear indication that he is mortally afraid that the wind will soon blow hard enough to expose the fowl’s rump’’.

    ‘’Neither the PDP as a party nor its spokesman have the moral authority to condemn anyone, least of all a President that is working hard to rescue Nigeria from the abyss to which it has been plunged by the former ruling party.

    ‘’For the PDP to brush aside the latest revelation that a government it sired could not account for $700 million from the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), or the fact that the party could not account for billions of Naira in its own campaign funds, and then launch a frontal attack against a reformist government, is the height of shamelessness.

    ‘’For the ethically-challenged spokesman of the same morally-deficient party to continue to spew trash under the guise of opposition politics is totally provocative and absolutely unacceptable. Worse still, the lack of focus in the labyrinthine statements being issued by the opposition party has confirmed the prescience of the APC’s offer to the PDP’s spokesman to take a crash course in how to speak for the opposition,’’ it said.

  • Group to lawyers: Join anti-corruption fight

    The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) has urged lawyers to help end corruption in Africa.

    PALU said corruption thrives in the continent partly because, most lawyers, who represent parties to majority of business transactions lack knowledge of the nature and threats of corruption, making them vulnerable to, and complicit in acts of corruption.

    The group, in a statement in Abuja by its Vice President, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), said since every business transaction has a legal angle, requiring lawyers to act as intermediaries for either governments, private companies or citizens, they (lawyers) are well placed to prevent corruption, and could play a lead role in entrenching cleaner business transactions in the continent.

    Kayode, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), said the need to equip lawyers with the requisite knowledge of the nature and threats of corruption will partly drive the PALU yearly conference scheduled for Abuja between September 22 and 24, which will feature a two-day conference as theme: Combating corruption: The role of the legal profession in Africa.

    He said the conference, among others, aims to strengthen the role of African lawyers in the fight against corruption on the continent. He added that members will, at the conference, “officially adopt and sign the Code of Ethics on anti-corruption and professional compliance standards, and officially launch the interactive website and blog on lawyers-led anti-corruption initiatives on the African continent.”

    Kayode, who is also Chairman of the conference’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), said President Muhammadu Buhari, the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission (AUC), the General Counsel of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Chairperson of the African Union’s Advisory Board against Corruption (AU-ABC) are among dignitaries expected at the event.

    “Africa is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with significant multinational business transactions such as in mining, energy (oil and gas) and large infrastructure projects. The continent has however lost billions of dollars in these business transactions to corruption. This is money that could be used in socio-economic development on the continent.

    “PALU has identified good economic governance as an essential pre-requisite for promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in Africa. Our 2014-2019 Strategic Plan has placed importance on building the capacity of our members to help in preventing and combating corruption in Africa.

    “To that end, PALU is implementing a project titled: “African lawyers initiative on compliance in business relations”. The project aims at creating awareness on the legal and other anti-corruption instruments that exist, and the methods of ensuring compliance.

    “It also aims at shifting part of the responsibility of fighting corruption in business from government agencies to the legal profession upon whom business transactions rely. “These aims will be achieved through a series of activities that aspire to share information with, train and assist lawyers, to adopt and implement anti-corruption and compliance standards.  A key output of the project is the development of a Code of Ethics on anti-corruption and professional compliance standards,” Kayode said.

     

  • APC, SANs hail NLC over anti-corruption campaign

    APC, SANs hail NLC over anti-corruption campaign

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and other eminent Nigerians have hailed Nigerian workers and the Civil Society for standing up firmly against corruption, describing the workers’ open demonstration of support for the Federal Government’s battle against corruption as a major boost to the anti-graft fight.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Nigerian workers’ unambiguous stand against corruption is also a clear repudiation of all those who have attempted to politicise the battle either by insinuating selectivity or saying the government should face governance instead of dwelling on the fight against corruption.

    It said: ‘’Thursday’s nationwide demonstrations by Nigerian workers and the civil society in support of the anti-corruption battle is the clearest indication yet that corruption is now seen for what it is—a vice to be condemned and punished rather than something to be venerated and celebrated.

    “The growing intolerance for corruption among Nigerians is also a clear example of what a nation can achieve under a committed, sincere, purposeful and focused leadership.’’

    APC said the delivery of good governance is seriously hampered by corruption, hence the cankerworm, which it said has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society, is the main reason why millions of unemployed youths cannot get jobs, hospitals lack necessary equipment and drugs, infrastructural deficit is worsening and social services are almost non-existent.

    The party added: ‘’A huge chunk of the billions of naira budgeted annually for all sectors of the economy end up in private pockets. Little wonder that the economy has been in the doldrums over the years despite the trillions of naira earned by the country from crude oil sales alone.

    ‘’It is therefore baffling that some people, for whatever reasons, have decided to engage in sophistry in their attempt to distract the government from combating graft.

    “Thursday’s nationwide anti-graft rally by Nigerian workers and the civil society has shown that Nigerians are not buying such fallacy.’’

    It recalled the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari in his inaugural speech on 29 May 2015, that his Administration would tackle head on the serious challenges facing the country, including insecurity and pervasive corruption, and appealed to all Nigerians to continue to give their unalloyed support to the administration in its determination to surmount the challenges.

    Also speaking, Chief LadiWilliams (SAN) hailed the action of the workers. He said the NLC has the right to make the demands for death sentence for all corrupt public officials, but regretted that “our statute does not have provision for capital punishment.

    “The demand is therefore inconsistent with our constitution. Until the law is amended, I don’t think a judge has the power to pass death sentence on anybody.

    “The demand is what I call the Chinese option. In spite of this, I agree that something drastic needs to be done about the state of corruption in the country.

    “Some people have been known to reach out to adjudicators to compromise them. On several occasions, the accused are either freed or given a slap in the hand.

    “It is a murderous cruelty for any of these people to get away with even a dollar from what they have stolen.”

    He added: “They are also right in kicking against the use of perpetual injunction by corrupt officials to restrain anti-corruption agencies from prosecuting them. But I will say that due process must be followed.

    “I am also of the opinion that perpetual injunction should not be allowed in our fight against corruption. I find it difficult for anybody to prevent investigation of corrupt officials and something has to be done about it.

    “If we don’t do anything about corruption, we would remain in poverty perpetually.”

    The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on war Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, described the protest as a step in the right direction, but frowned at the call for death penalty.

    “The demand for death penalty for corrupt officials is a bit extreme. I have always been guided by the fact that once a life is taken, it can’t be restored,” he said, adding: “I totally support the campaign against the use of restraining injunction by corrupt people to prevent being prosecuted. Any judge who issues that should be regarded as guilty of gross misconduct and his job put on the line.

    “I am however against going to their houses to bring them out because it would amount to physical violence. It should be left in the hands of the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC).

    “Such a judge should be queried and dismissed from office for promoting corruption. “

    In a separate interview, Enechi Onyia (SAN), said the protest was in order because it is geared towards curbing corruption in the country.

    “The Federal Government should take all of that and decide what is good for the country. It is the fundamental right of any Nigerian to go to court for whatever he wants. It is the court that can decide whether to grant the request or not,” he said.

    Also commending the NLC, Barrister Fred Agbaje, a human rights activist, asserted that the “right to fair hearing should not make the court to blindly accede to the request of one man against the interest of the country.

    “I support the NLC on their protest against the use of perpetual injunction by corrupt officials to avoid prosecution. Judges should weigh the interest of the larger society and the need to curb corruption as enshrined in section 15 of the constitution.

    “I also support the demand for capital punishment for corrupt officials, irrespective of what some governors are saying. I am not an apostle of death penalty, but if that is what will stop or reduce corruption, so be it.”

  • Buhari and the anti-corruption war

    SIR: The glaring lack of political will to tame the scourge of corruption by successive administrations in Nigeria has led to degeneration of moral values and institutional decay. Corruption in the country today has become a malignant cancer spreading out of control.

    On a daily basis, Nigerians are inundated with reports by the media on the monumental corruption that has taken place in the country over the years by past government officials. That corruption is Nigeria’s leading bane is evidenced in the state of our economy today with high unemployment rate.

    About two-third of the population live on less than one dollar per day. Several reports and ratings by local, regional and international organizations and agencies paint a disturbing picture for the present as well as the future of our dear country. While majority of Nigerians are reeling under grinding poverty and serious material deprivations, those in government who are saddled with the responsibility of promoting the material well being of the people are engaged in looting our economy and pauperising the masses with brazen impunity, living an ostentatious and opulence lifestyle. The essence of service is no longer motivated by selflessness and patriotism but selfish and monetary interest.

    For us to come out of this self-inflicted problem, President Muhammadu Buhari must be ready to do more biting than bark; take a strong stance against profligacy and corruption and move beyond  rhetoric and walk the talk, move away from the era of business as usual and “stealing is not corruption”.

    So also, he must put in plan corruption preventive measures to nip it in the bud before it occurs, build stronger institutions, and embark on judicial reforms to strengthen our judiciary and judicial process which has continued to allow corrupt government officials to go scot-free. In this same vein, our anti-corruption agencies must be strengthened for it to be more effective.

     

    • Wasiu Odukoya,

    Surulere, Lagos.

     

  • Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade ‘commendable’

    The President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Dr. Nat Ofo, has described as commendable the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it will greatly reduce the wanton looting of the treasury.

    He also said Nigeria should not be the poorest country because of its vast resources, adding however, that the impact of these resources are not felt “because they are mismanaged”.

    Dr. Ofo stated these while briefing newsmen on this year’s annual conference and dinner awards of the institute slated for  September 10 and 11, at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

    The ICSAN president also said that the corruption war of the present administration would not only bring to the barest minimum the rate of the scourge which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society, but also go a long way in letting the resources of the country go round.

    “Nigeria should not be the poorest country because of our resources- oil and others. But because these resources are mismanaged, their impacts are not felt. We should have a system to ensure prudency in financial resources. By having this, the impact will be widely felt.

    “President Buhari’s fight against corruption is okay and it will make our resources have impact on the people. Corruption is a major issue that should be dealt with so that the people will feel the impact of the resources we have in the country.

    “Government should be accountable to the people so that more dividends of democracy will be felt from the little resources we get”, Ofor stated.

    He also stated that: “Disclosure and Transparency: A Paradigm Shift in Corporate Nigeria” is the theme of this year’s conference, which has as its sub-themes: “Responsibility of independent Non-Executive Directors in Corporate Nigeria”; “Duality of Audit Committees in Nigeria: A critical Appraisal” and “Opportunities for Chartered Secretaries and Corporate Governance Auditors”.