The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anti-graft

  • Poll bribery scandal: Anti-graft commission quizzes fresh 11 INEC staff over N120m

    Poll bribery scandal: Anti-graft commission quizzes fresh 11 INEC staff over N120m

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has interrogated 11 employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over N120million poll bribery sum allegedly received from some politicians during the 2015 general election.

    The affected staff, who were electoral officers in charge of the 11 local government areas of Gombe State, were grilled at the Gombe State Zonal office of the EFCC.

    Most of them admitted to have benefitted from the bribe sum which was routed through a retired Electoral Officer, Yunusa Ali Biri.

    Those quizzed were: Godwin Maiyaki Gambo Balanga, Bukar Alone Benisheik, Dukku, Jibril. B. Muhammed,Billiri, Dunguma Musa Dogona, Funakaye, Mohammed. A. Wanka, Kaltungo, Ishaku Yusuf, Kwami, Suleiman Isawa, Nafada, Babagana Malami, Shongom, and Nuhu Samuel, Y/Deba.

    With the latest bend of the investigation, the number of INEC staff so far interrogated is 33.

    A top source, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “We have interrogated 11 electoral officers over N120million bribes they allegedly received from some politicians to undermine electoral process in the 2015 election conducted by the commission.

    “The staff, who were all electoral officers in charge of the eleven local government areas of Gombe State, reported at Gombe State Zonal Office of the commission yesterday.

    “They had made useful statements, and most had confessed to receiving millions of naira for their local government areas from two of them who negotiated and collected the bribe on their behalf.

    “The electoral officers for the Akko Local Government Area and Gombe Local Government Area, Ahmed Ali Biu and Mohammed.B.Zannah, admitted to have collected the bribe from one Yunusa Ali Biri, also a retired electoral officer who acted as Gombe State coordinator of bribes for electoral officers in the state.

    “Biri was known and addressed as coordinator of NGO, a euphemism or code, used to cover the activities of the two parties.

    “At the meeting of the state coordinator, Biu, and Zannah at the Electoral Officers’ Lodge at Corner Alheri, opposite the NNPC mega station in Gombe.

    “The parties agreed to share the bribe per polling unit in each local government area and part of the bribe should go to the ad hoc staff employed and deployed to each polling station across the state.

    “However, the commission would have to unravel the discrepancy in the amount collected and the actual money disbursed to the electoral officers.

    “ Some claimed that the coordinator short-changed them because he gave only N88million (N8million each) to the eleven local government areas in the state.”

    The number of the INEC staff grilled by the EFCC has now risen to 33, including 16 directors, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja and a Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Gesil Khan, and five others.

    The EFCC has been probing the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on her alleged involvement in a $115million (N23, 299,705,000billion) 2015 poll bribery scandal.

    About four oil firms, 14 directors of oil companies, two banks and INEC officers have been grilled.

    Some INEC officers already grilled are REC Gesil Khan for collecting  N185, 842,000 out of a N681million bribe deal; Fidelia Omoile ( Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State)—N112,480,000 ; Uluochi Obi Brown( INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State)—N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director  of the INEC in Cross River State, Edem Okon Effanga—N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in the INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo—N214,127,000.

    Also, a retired INEC employee, Sani Isa,  was grilled over alleged N 406,206,000 bribe sum allegedly collected on behalf of the deceased Resident Electoral Commissioner  (REC) in Kano State, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi.

  • Buhari for U.K. with10-point anti-graft plan

    Buhari for U.K. with10-point anti-graft plan

    Rough times are on the way for looters, with President Muhammadu Buhari stepping up the anti-corruption battle.

    The President will soon send a list of corruption convicts and suspects on trial to the United Kingdom and many other countries.

    Besides, he has sent a bill to the National Assembly on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, which will encourage collaboration with other nations.

    Two other bills on Proceeds of Crime and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre will soon be sent to the National Assembly.

    The President has proposed to lift the veil on corporate ownerships to disclose the true owners of a corporate vehicle in contract bids and procurement.

    These new anti-graft measures are contained in the President’s roadmap for the  summit of world leaders in London on Thursday.

    The perspectives of the President were released last night in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

    It also contains 10 new anti-graft reforms. They are:

    • greater fiscal transparency and and the enforcement of anti-corruption laws in the oil sector;
    • improvement of anti-corruption laws;
    • stringent measures against corruption in corporate governance;
    • enactment of Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2016;
    • restriction of the ability of those who have looted public funds from traveling and investing the proceeds of their corruption in developed countries;
    • developing list of those who have been convicted as well as those already prosecuted in Nigerian courts and sharing same with other countries; and
    • contracts within a certain threshold will be published and those behind the companies bidding for the contract to  be listed for public scrutiny both at national and state levels.

    Officers working in budget offices and those responsible for approving public spending may henceforth  be properly scrutinized, monitored and required to declare their assets regularly. New bills on Proceeds of Crime  and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre  for the National Assembly soon

    New regulation that will authorize the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) to obtain information on beneficial ownership of foreign companies is also in the works.

    The perspectives read in part: “A major issue of interest to this government and a few others is on greater transparency in the extractive industry (oil, gas and solid mineral sectors).

    “The U.K. Government and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, have identified 20 per cent of international corruption and bribery as coming from this sector.

    “Nigeria will argue for greater fiscal transparency and and the enforcement of anti-corruption laws to deal with the problem.

    “The President is expected to give assurances that a lot of work will be done  on a set of laws that will improve enforcement of anti-corruption laws. Nigeria has already begun reviewing its anti-corruption laws enacted since 2000 to bring it in compliance with international developments.

    “In addition, the country, which has ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is currently reviewing the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention for possible ratification. The OECD convention is considered among the stringiest of measures against corruption in corporate governance.

    “The government of President Buhari has also forwarded the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2016 to the National Assembly in Nigeria for enactment into law.

    “When it is passed, it will enhance mutual assistance and  international cooperation between Nigeria and other countries.

    “The President will also announce that a new Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre Bill has been drafted for this purpose and would soon be forwarded to the National Assembly.

    “The Nigerian government will also indicate support for the UK proposal on the development of the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre. This is to be based in London and will serve as a global forum.

    “As part of this country’s contributions to the evolution of the global anti-corruption infrastructure, Nigeria will seek support for the hosting of an ‘International Summit on Assets Recovery’ in 2017 in Abuja and for the establishment and hosting of a ‘Forum on Assets Recovery in Africa’ to be based in Abuja.”

    The document said the Federal Goverment will also circulate the list of those convicted for corruption and those prosecuted in courts to willing nations.

    It added: “The country will also seek the support of the UK government for the establishment of an anti-corruption coordination framework at the national level.

    Nigeria will be fully embracing  UK proposals for the summit on the restriction of the ability of those who have looted public funds from travelling and investing the proceeds of their corruption in developed countries.

    “ To this end, the Nigerian government will develop its list of those who have been convicted as well as those already prosecuted in Nigerian courts for grand corruption for the purpose of sharing them with countries that are interested in offering bilateral or multilateral cooperation to Nigeria in the recovery of looted funds.

    “The Nigerian government is also signaling an early support for the UK proposals on assets recovery which prescribes measures substantially in tandem with a new Proceeds of Crime Bill being drafted and would soon been forwarded by President Buhari to the National Assembly for passage into law.

    “In addition to the political spotlighting of corruption, the coming together of world leaders is a sign of hope that countries like Nigeria with systems that are lax and compromised can gain from the experience of others in improving their regulatory mechanisms as quickly as possible.

    “This trip is important for both Nigeria and the international community, which reposes a lot of hope on Muhammadu Buhari, who is faced with the daunting task of reversing the the socio-economic and political mess in which the previous administration left the country.”

    The document gave insights into Buhari’s plans to transform corporate governance and endure transparency in contract system.

    It said: “As his own contribution, the President has substantially aligned himself with major initiatives enunciated by the convener, Prime Minister David Cameron that seek to increase transparency and governance in several key areas.

    “He has formulated a Nigerian position on how to end impunity for corruption and ensuring that those involved in grand corruption are brought to justice through the active enforcement of laws and restrictions.

    “Equally in agreement with Cameron, he is making suggestions on ways of empowering those affected by corruption by ensuring that its proceeds are returned to those from whom they have been stolen.”

    President Buhari will also join the world leaders in designing a global architecture and tools that can be used to by international organizations,countries and national  institutions to fight corruption.

    “In an outline by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), specific areas of interest to Nigeria which the President will put on the tables include the development of beneficial ownership information related to corporate ownership, procurement, and public contract.

    “By this, Nigeria will seek the lifting of the veil on corporate ownerships in order to disclose the true owners of a corporate vehicle in contract bids and procurement processes. Beyond this, the corporate ownership profile may be shared with other countries or interested stakeholders.

    “Already, there is a broad view among the participants that public contracting is a source of public corruption and must be tackled as such. Our officials recommend that contracts within a certain threshold should be published and those behind the companies bidding for the contract should be listed for public scrutiny both at national and state levels.

    “To achieve this, Nigeria plans the enactment of a regulation that will authorise the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), to obtain information on beneficial ownership of foreign companies that can be held in a different database to be managed by the CAC in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria will be demanding the strengthening of the supervisory responsibilities of financial and non-financial services regulators and provision of specific training on compliance requirements for these sectors and will seek the establishment of an inter-agency collaboration as a key element in improving the implementation of Financial Action Task Force, FATF standards (such as the money laundering laws, anti-corruption laws, and Financial Intelligence Center Bill).

    “As part of measures to enhance fiscal transparency, which is required in enhancing economic growth, improved GDP and poverty reduction, officers working in budget offices as well as those responsible for approving public spending may henceforth  be properly scrutinized, monitored and required to declare assets on a regular basis.

    “The Nigerian government has in fact set for itself the objective of signing the ‘Open Government Partnership and Open Contracting Partnership.”

  • Anti-graft war: Buhari, 59 world leaders agree sanctions on looters

    Anti-graft war: Buhari, 59 world leaders agree sanctions on looters

    The party appears to be over for public officers in the habit of looting the nation’s treasury.

    The Federal Government and 59 other nations will in May sign agreement on the sanctions to be imposed on corrupt political and public office holders.

    President Muhammadu Buhari will join 59 other world leaders in the United Kingdom to seal the pact by which any of the 60 countries involved would no longer be a “safe haven” for treasury looters.

    Some of the sanctions that may be imposed on culprits include:

    • travel restriction or denial of entry visa into the 60 countries;
    • rejection of request for political asylum by corrupt political and public office holders;
    • likely loss of citizenship;
    • no more approval of naturalization for any corrupt person;
    • no establishment of shell companies abroad; and
    • the corrupt will not be allowed to operate foreign accounts in any of the 60 nations.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent, said the agreement will make it difficult for those stealing public funds in the country to escape abroad or operate slush accounts to stash cash away.

    He said: “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping up the fight against corruption. I am happy to bring to your notice that Nigeria and 59 other countries will enter into an agreement in May on the imposition of international sanctions against corrupt political and public office holders. This will take place at the 2016 international summit on anti-corruption in the UK.

    “At the May summit, these 60 countries will agree on some sanctions against those who steal public funds or launder money.

    “Some of these measures are travel restriction or denial of entry into the 60 countries; rejection of request for political asylum by corrupt political and public officers; no more approval of  application for naturalization by any corrupt person; and the corrupt will not be allowed to operate foreign accounts  in any of the signatory nation to the pact among others.

    “The affected countries will also design ways of sharing intelligence on corrupt officers and money launderers. We will all key into this understanding as part of the global action against corruption.

    “With this development, there is no hiding place for any public office holder who steals funds in this country.”

    Responding to a question, the AGF said: “The President will deliver a keynote address at the May summit. It all borders on the international appreciation of the anti-corruption agenda of this administration.

    “In fact, Nigeria is being considered as the 2017 host of the international summit on anti-corruption.”

    In the past few years, politically exposed persons in the country and their cronies have stashed looted funds in the UK, US, UAE, Switzerland, France, Seychelles and the Island of Jersey.

    Some of the looted funds include $723 million (about N142.43 billion) repatriated from  Switzerland in the last 10 years; $200b allegedly stashed in UAE; $480m to be released to the Federal Government by US; £22.5 million (N6.18 billion) recovered from Island of Jersey; and about £400b in Europe, Asia and America.

    The Swiss government in March confirmed that it had so far returned $723 million (about N142.43 billion) of stolen funds seized from the family of the late former head of state, Sani Abacha, to the Nigerian government in the last 10 years.

    The amount excluded the $321million (about N63.24 billion) which the Swiss authorities recently said it was planning to repatriate to Nigeria.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, said over $200 billion had been hidden in UAE.

    He said: “Over $200 billion are stashed away in Dubai alone. This may represent the monies stolen since in the past 20 years.

    “I am not talking about estates and bonds and other securities bought with Nigeria’s stolen money.”

  • NASS committees and anti-graft war

    SIR; The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) empowers the National Assembly in section 88 to by a resolution published in its journal or the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation to direct or cause to be directed an investigation into:                                 

    1. (a)any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws; and

    (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for:

    executing or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly; and

    disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.

    1. The powers conferred on the National Assembly under the provisions of this section are exercisable only for the purpose of enabling it to:

    make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and

    expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence  and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it.

    It is therefore mandatory for committees of the National Assembly to exercise oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs to assess policy objectives and implementation strategies; identify lapses and factors inhibiting successfully implementation of projects; advice on improvement; and identify misapplication and mismanagement of funds. Reports of oversight visits are expected to be presented in plenary of the two chambers and if need be, the provisions of Section 88 of the Constitution evoked for full investigation.

    Regrettably, oversight of MDAs has been ineffective in exposing corruption and waste in the public sector. Serious allegations of committee members demanding  MDAs to for example,  fund their local or foreign trips or provide funds for public hearings, or  solicit contracts among others, from the same MDAs they are expected to oversee has negative effect of diminishing the role of the National Assembly in promoting good governance. It also undermines the principle of checks and balances in the conduct of governmental affairs.

    Allegations abound of committees conniving with MDAs by “burying” huge sums of money in the budget with a view to retrieving same after the budget has been passed and signed into law. Budget hearings have become mere rituals and do not guarantee judicious deployment of scarce resources to the most felt needs of citizens nor promote transparency and accountability.

    Equally worrisome, is the acrimony that usually emerges as soon as   legislative committees are constituted at the commencement of a new assembly.  Section 62 of the constitution empowers the Senate or the House of Representatives to appoint a committee of its members for such special or general purpose… and delegate any functions exercisable by it to any such committee. The constitution has no provision for the so called “juicy committee(s)” being sought after by legislators.

    Committee assignments provide opportunity for a legislator to offer meritorious service to his/her country.  The Nigerian experience on the contrary has shown that private gains as against national service are a major factor in the constant fight on the floor by legislators over the so called “juicy committees.” The numerous investigative hearings conducted by committees of the National Assembly whether in the power sector, aviation, petroleum subsidy, capital market, etc., are pointers of failure of legislative oversight. Committees as the engine house of their respective chambers need to be proactive in exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the public sector and not wait for things to happen before commencing investigations.

     

    • Dr. Rahila Ahmadu

    Asokoro, Abuja.

  • UK backs Buhari’s anti-graft war

    United Kingdom  Minister for International Development Mr. Nick Hurd has affirmed his country’s backing for President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance to rid Nigeria of corruption.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that fighting corruption was critical to transforming Nigeria’s future.

    Hurd said: “We have been active in supporting Buhari’s campaign against corruption in Nigeria and we think it is fundamental to transform the future of the country.

    “We support priorities that the President has given to tackling corruption in Nigeria.

    “We feel that corruption is absolutely the right priority and we want to support him in that,” he said.

    The minister urged the Federal Government to focus on public sector reforms aimed at making corruption unattractive to workers and the public.

    He noted that there was so much workers in the public sector could do to reduce corruption through effective accounting systems.

    Hurd added that his country was working with the Federal Government and civil society organisations on attitudinal change in Nigeria.

    “We think corruption holds Nigeria back and for every pound that is taken out of the public system through corruption, is a pound that could be spent educating children.

    “It is a pound that could be spent educating girls and developing the health system that the country can be proud of.

    “That is the kind of attitude that we would like to encourage and, therefore, we support the President in that,” he said.

    Hurd said the British Prime Minister David Cameron, like President Buhari, is also passionate in ridding his country of corruption.

    “Which is why next month, he (Cameron) is holding an anti-corruption summit in London and we hope that Nigeria will be well represented.

    “The conference will bring together world leaders to discuss corruption and their plans to tackle it in their countries; so corruption is a big issue for us,” he said.

  • Firm backs Fed Govt’s anti-graft probe

    Firm backs Fed Govt’s anti-graft probe

    A Nigerian-based firm, Inview Technology Nigeria Limited, has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s anti-graft war prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The firm is a software middleware partner for the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC’s) common standard set top boxes to enable customers access the free-to-view platforms by Digital Switchover (DSO).

    A statement by its Chairman, Nick Markham,  said: “Inview Technology Nigeria Limited is proud to be supporting the Nigerian government in the Digital Switch Over (‘DSO’) programme, and is committed to helping the NBC deliver free digital channels to the Nigerians.

    “To ensure that the DSO programme is managed correctly, Inview respects and supports the EFCC’s work investigating payments relating to DSO. As part of the EFCC’s investigation, allegations have been made in the press concerning actions that the Inview’s CEO, Babatunji Amure, may have taken.

    “Inview has taken these allegations seriously and has held discussions with the EFCC senior Investigating officer, who has confirmed that Inview is not involved in this matter.

    “The EFCC has confirmed that in fact the allegations relate to Mr. Amure’s role as CEO of D-Vine and therefore any actions Mr. Amure may have taken would have been outside the scope of his employment with Inview.

    ‘’The EFCC has also confirmed that the investigation has no impact on Inview’s work with the government concerning DSO. Inview will continue to support and assist the EFCC during these investigations,” the statement read.

  • ‘Buhari’s anti-graft war not selective’

    ‘Buhari’s anti-graft war not selective’

    The National Assembly was to pass the budget in February. Now, it has extended it to this March, we hope the new date stands?

    Yes, true, the National Assembly was to pass the budget by February, but we are likely to pass it now before the end of March. The delay was essentially because there was discovery of padding by some individuals and therefore due process and due diligence must be carefully followed. To look at the budget microscopically, to pick out those anomalies before the budget can be said to be a credible one. Let me also add that we are working on the budget collectively; that is both the National Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume is the Senate Majority Leader and a member of All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Adetutu Audu, he spoke on some controversial national issues like the national budget debate, the devaluation of the naira and electricity tariff, among others. ExcerptsAssembly and the executive, as led by the Minister of Budget Planning and Finance. This is thefirst time the government is doing a budget that it owns up to.

    The President has come under criticism because of his frequent foreign trips. What is your view?

    The President is not like a chief cook, such that without him, people would go hungry.  The president of a country is supposed to be running a country with institutions running without him physically being there. It is like an aircraft which can be on auto pilot. This president is not a man that privatizes or customizes government because the previous government made it so, such that once the president was not in the country, all institutions shut down. Is it not in this country that when President Buhari was away for one week, he handed over governance to his vice.  When was the last time such happened here? This president connects with his cabinet and government where ever he is around the world. In this digital age, a president can operate from any part of the globe, running his government. I think majority of the country is in support of the president traveling, because his visits are beginning to yield results as exemplified by the number of investments coming our way and presidents of other countries are reciprocating the gesture. The image of the country is improving now.

     President Muhammadu Buhari said he is yet to be convinced why the Naira should be devalued, do you share his thought?

    I don’t support devaluation of the naira and I totally support the president in that regard. Naira must not be devalued. There is an official window which has pegged the official rate to 197 and those demands that are essential that would warrant dollar to be sold for official rate is there.  You know the Bureau De Change (BDC) was shut down because  their demand was becoming astronomical, even at that, some people were using the forex for  round tripping, money laundering and because there was variance between the official and black market rate, everybody was seeking for BDC license. I think the president’s action in this regard is necessary. The dollar coming from our crude has gone down drastically and the demand for dollar is astronomically high. So, the demand and supply forces played out. I am with the president on that. I think our economic experts should come out with solutions not castigating the action of the president.

    The Senate recently ordered that the increased tariff of the DISCOS should be stopped, saying that it was arbitrary as no consultation was made before the announcement; can you expatiate on this?

    There was no enough consultation and there was no reason why they should increase the tariff up to 45 percent; there  is no reason why they should take advantage of customers for something that belongs to us all because I believe they were given these companies. Left to me, these companies should be taken back because the process of the privatization of these companies was faulty. During the motion on the floor of the senate, I told them there that even though the price of diesel is high that I still prefer to be using it because I know I am seeing the value of my money. But these people, they charge for what you don’t use. In other words, I am paying for darkness. By the time the companies were taken over or bought as you put it, the Federal Government had invested so much into the companies. Not only that, they were also given loans by the CBN based on the fact that it would improve their service, yet the service is not there and yet we are paying. Now, they said they want to increase tariff. For services not rendered?  I think the government should regulate it more. The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) should do more than they are presently doing. What it is like to me is that NERC has betrayed the Nigerian trust and confidence. I don’t think they deserve any increment now. Increment should be in relation to service rendered, not increasing tariff for services not rendered. I want to commend the efforts and move of the Nigerian Labour Organisation (NLC). I am joining them in this effort. Whenever they are making any other protest against this arbitrary increment, I will be glad to be part of it. They got these companies at give away prices, and yet they still want to suck everything off the customers.  That will not be accepted. We won’t take that. Has power improved? No.

    The insurgency, appears to be gradually winding up as the Nigerian Army is intensifying its onslaught against the terrorists?

    The Army bought the motor bike battalion in order to put finishing touches so that it can rout out the remnant of the insurgents. Now, it has reopened some of the closed roads in the North-East which hitherto was impassable due to the activities of the insurgents. The Maiduguri-Bama Road, Damaturu-Bujuba Road, Maiduguri-Mongunu Road and  other major roads. Really, there is hope, there is light at the end of the tunnel for us in the North-East because relative economic activities are beginning to pick up.

    It has been said that Buhari’s anti corruption drive is targeted at the opposition. Why only the opposition, why is he selective?

    He is not selective.

    Has any APC member been arrested for corruption?

    Even in the senate, (Senator Ibrahim) Goje is in court.

    That was before the government came?

    If the government is not committed to fighting corruption, it would have stopped it. (Senator Ibrahim) Yerima was in court recently. I am in court.  Jafaru was arrested too. However, it is like we are all missing the point.  When the opposition was in power, money meant for the welfare of Nigerians was siphoned within members of the ruling government, now that they are being called upon to answer for their deeds, you are saying it is a selective prosecution. Would the government come after you, for example, if you never partook in any action of the past?  The money shared by the former National Security Adviser during the last government, would they have shared the money to members of the opposition? Of course not. They shared it within themselves. So, it is natural that those who participated in it are called to book. Right now, President Muhammadu Buhari said it to my hearing, not that they told me or I read it somewhere, I was there when he was saying it that even if it is ‘my son’ that is involved and you are convinced with the evidence against him that he tampers with public funds, please go and arrest him, don’t come to me; just do your job. He said this to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).  Let me also tell you this, in case you don’t know, Dasuki is related to President Buhari. Dasuki is married to the daughter of Buhari’s uncle.  If we want this fight against corruption to achieve its desired result, then, the agencies responsible to fighting it must be proactive. If I, Senate Majority Leader, owns a big plaza, for example, the onus should be on me to prove that I legitimately acquired the property. These are some of the ways by which the government can fight and reduce corruption in the system.

  • Problem with the anti-graft war

    The western world survives and thrives on institutions they have successfully erected. With these in place, any man is dispensable. A certain man might not be there and the system still works like a driverless car. So ‘big man’ has no bearing. A man commits an offence in a country, it is against the state not against the person of the president, not a personalized thing against the head of the executive arm of government. The president wants justice served just like the ordinary man but he has no direct personal interest in any case. He thus need not railroad the system to get conviction at all cost. There is no puerile argument not to grant bail to an accused because he might abscond. This institution of the people will pursue any offender to serve the people justice, regardless who is in power and even when a present occupant leaves and how long it takes.

    The position of anti-crime, anti-corruption head in civilized nations is not for a cop with a baton. Ever wonder why the West appoints bloody civilians to head their defence ministries and the CIA is headed by civilians? These most sensitive jobs are not about muscles. It is who can think best in that given field. It is about freshness of ideas. It is the gospel the current Nigerian police chief seems to be preaching. By the time his tenure is over, he might well have changed the Nigerian Police Force to the Nigerian Police Intelligence.

    The nation’s anti-corruption boss need be one that leaders of the West would enjoy greatly his company and just co-operate profusely because there is no chance of him going primitive in his modus operandi with sacred facts entrusted him. They can share strong intelligence with him on those involved in heist in his own country. And these might just well be high-ranking members of the executive, the legislature and their spouse. Those obscenely rich tax-fraudsters corporations operating in Nigeria; super bankers who know and have perfected the Machiavellian methods of defrauding the Nigerian nation especially through slush funds. Not just unreformed politicians. Being an institution of its own, deferring to no personality, the anti-corruption boss armed with these infallible facts, he swings into legal action.

    The institution like the judiciary has no need for cheap lousy media trials and sensationalism. Just do your job. It need not be accountable to a present administration nor the head of the executive arm. I wonder what Ibrahim Magu was doing twice one day recently at the Presidential Villa clutching files like a clerk, reportedly seeking audience with the President. For what?

    The head of the anti-corruption body is not the head of the APC anti-corruption wing. If, any new government will necessarily review his position and give him the Ribadu treatment.

    Sam Omatseye, chairman editorial board of The Nation might have titled his piece, To Catch A Thief, (The Nation, January 11,), An Open Letter To His Excellency, President Buhari. Omatseye was imploring the president to adopt an institutionalized form of fighting corruption. He reasoned that the real problem with the current effort is that it is the president’s personal thing. That by defying the courts, which is an institution safeguarding the constitution, the president risks a case of brazen impunity chasing alleged impunity.

    By taking this fight personally, the president risks by the time he leaves that office, the new man will have his own another personal script. Then the hens might just come home to roost.

    Nobody could go with a vengeance and purge against corruption like the late General Muhammed. But look at what the Second Republic that followed his mass cleansing efforts produced. So much for personalized war effort. If things are not institutionalized, it cannot become a movement thing. Just fleeting media entertainment and vendetta that learned but covetous SANs will stall and torpedo eventually. And those clapping to see Olisa Metuh in handcuffs today, might well be in leg irons in a next dispensation, just perhaps for the chunk of security vote they appropriated to themselves and were unaccountable for. What is corruption and fighting corruption thus becomes the whims of the particular person or party in charge.

    Magu in his visit to The Nation was quoted to have said, ‘’People arrogate things to themselves. They have taken our money and are bold enough to say they are not going to return it.’’

    Am not very comfortable with this. In a market club of roughnecks who are hired to collect debts, okay. But this is the 21st century head of anti-corruption. It sounds like he has a personal stake in this, a bile for those he is investigating. And this will necessarily lead to impunity. If there is an institution, Magu’s highly polished staff, will just assemble all the crack forensic facts. It is not his concern about whether anyone is bold to say he won’t return the money he took. Just ensure the man comes to court in his most fitting suit and be bold to tell the Judge he won’t return the funds. The man has every right to say he won’t return the money. He might well be suffering from bipolar disorder. Just let the courts handle that please. And should the court declare the accused not culpable, the head of the anti-corruption body need shed no tears about that. It is not his personal matter. He is only representing an institution of the state.

    When the accused is set free, the people have spoken. Period. And should the anti-corruption Czar see the freed accused later, say at the International airport, they should still shake hands with a smile. This is the mark of an evolved society. And should that freed accused end up later becoming the president of the nation, it might well happen, the head of the anti-corruption body will have no fears about losing his job or being sent to teach at a mosquitoes-infested Police School.

    Letting things becoming personalized will put us all at the mercy of Josef Stalin’s scrutinizing accusation from which no man came out free. Every last kobo wrongly spent by those lackeys of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and by those who were fighting him yet looting their states’ treasury, will ultimately be gotten when the institution is allowed to work.

    Dror Moreh is an Israeli director of the Oscar-nominated documentary – The Gatekeepers. He alludes to facts that current Israeli prime minister with some extreme right-wing rabbis, played a part in creating the charged public atmosphere that led to the murder in 1995 of then Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin. Moreh said, ‘’There were many incidents of incitements against Rabin. Binyamin Netanyahu had a role in many of those incidents. Netanyahu made a speech in which a protester carried a coffin for Rabin and I am sure he saw it. He knew what was going on in these rallies that he led. Many called Rabin a Nazi collaborator’’.

    By the time Mr Amir pulled the trigger that ended Rabin, the media lynch war had already been waged and won against the man. He stood no chance.

    By the time all these media trials of suspected looters of the Nigerian treasury, all these top secret documents released for effects in the press war. By the times these accused are finally arraigned, if ever, won’t the ground dirty work already have been won against them? Would they be able to escape on any legal justification if any?

    Why not just let institutions be erected and let them thrive.

     

    • Barr Chima is a public affairs commentator.
  • Christian group backs govt’s anti-graft battle

    Christian group backs govt’s anti-graft battle

    A group, the Christian Conscience, has lauded the President Muhammadu-led Federal Government for demonstrating the political will to fight corruption in the country.

    A statement by its National Chairman, Chief Enock Ajiboso and the National Publicity Secretary Tunji Oguntuase, after its monthly Central Working Committee meeting in Lagos pledged to support the government in its fight against the menace with everything it has, especially with prayers.

    “With the latest revelations coming out every day, Nigerians have come to realise that huge sums of money meant to fight insurgents and to upgrade infrastructures were shared among political leaders in the last administration, all in their determined efforts to continue to rule at all cost, forgetting that it is only God that chooses whom He wants.

    “These diversions would have been covered if not for God that enthroned the Buhari-led government.”

    The statement enjoined Nigerians to be patient with government’s method of identifying the looters and block further loop holes, as well as to correct mistakes of the past.

    “We are trusting God to give our leaders the wisdom to use the recovered funds to better the people’s life.”

  • Anti-graft war: I support total cleansing -Iwanyanwu

    Anti-graft war: I support total cleansing -Iwanyanwu

    The nation’s political space is occupied by people who have no business in governance. This was the position of Chief Chyna Iwanyanwu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in this interview with Vincent Ikuomola. Excerpts 

    You belong to a political party whose 16 years rule has been tainted with corruption; do you think this present government is on the right path in the fight to eradicate this cankerworm?

    On the anti-corruption, I am telling you on authority that no single man can change the country; it is only Nigerians, with the help of God that can change the country. Nobody has the monopoly of the wisdom, capacity to do it alone. In Mexico, if you go after drug barons, they will run after you too. Some of these people we are talking about have looted billions of naira. They will fight you through the judiciary and presently, let us not be too dramatic because what we are doing is name them and shame them and that is not enough. It is either we recover our money or send them to jail. We have to be systematic; else, the moment he catches Metuh and sends him to jail, the Igbo people will say it is tribalism. Bode George went to prison and they rolled out drums to bring him out but if it’s a governor, we will say it is tribalism and this shows that we don’t have a nation yet. We are a nation of nations and we are saying the time has come for us to put this country first.

    Out of every 12, there must be a Judas. On the anti-corruption; Dignity, discipline and anti-corruption are absolutely necessary and I am in total support of the body language, but I am talking about the implementation. I have challenged Buhari and APC, It is wrong to give the impression that everybody in PDP is corrupt and everybody in APC is an angel; if you execute it like that, you will fail.

    The other side of the coin, there were people who were corrupt in PDP and they decided to join the other party. They stole money and also helped institute this president and they are still there. It is not the question of the school you attended or the party you belong to; what I want is a holistic anti corruption and systematic anti corruption. I would prefer we get the institutions right rather than the government spending 75 percent of its activities on anti corruption. The president would have taken over EFCC chairmanship because that is not the job of government, rather, the wellbeing and welfare of majority of the citizens and that can only be done through an economic roadmap and template which we have not seen. If we continue to pursue these people who are getting angry, we will in turn get angry one day and start pursuing the president. I advice that he should be very systematic about it but I am in support of total cleansing.

    Look at the girl who came to testify that Metuh gave her money to invest; she is the daughter of my good friend and I never imagined that she would have ever seen that kind of money. So, what I am saying is that corruption is bad but it basically started from the Army and they went unpunished. During Yar’Adua’s tenure, was there corruption but during Obasanjo’s would you say that there was no corruption? Will you say no corruption is going on now?

    With what is going on in PDP, will you still say you are a member of the party?

    Do you know that without PDP members, APC wouldn’t have won the election? And what drove them out of PDP? They are the devils and it is only a matter of time that they will get exposed. PDP does not smell, politics in Nigeria smells irrespective of the party. I am a proud member of PDP and the change that happened in Nigeria is the beauty of democracy and it shows Nigerians have the final way.  Politicians may have their say but Nigerians will always have their final say. All that is going on now, some of us preached against it and refused to be associated with it and the consequence is that we were sidelined but it is going to happen by force because when your publicity secretary is not there, when the court has removed your national chairman, when your board of trustee chairman has run away and your president has collapsed, what else are we talking about? Do you know that there is God? Mrs. Jonathan who was worshipped by people also reminded those people that there is God.

    Will PDP come out of this?

    It is possible for them to come out if they change their leadership but if they don’t, it is goodbye. But I won’t join APC.

    Don’t you think the current anti-corruption revelations speak of the level of moral decadence in the country?

    I agree that there is decay in values but those of us who have remained strong are still available. I went to court to see Olisa Metuh; he was shocked, so also those around him. He was shocked because he took my position from me but God knows best. We are saying the time has come for total reengineering and it is the responsibility of all of us.  The political space is occupied by people who have no business in governance. Governors are those who help God to look after God’s most important creation and the most important creation is man not bridges. Leaders must have conscience and partner with God irrespective of the religion.

    At what point did we miss it and what do you think is the way out of the wood for the country?

    Education is key and it is not just school education, the family has a role, religious institutions have a role. I am telling you on authority that the kind of discipline we had really helped us. We must account for whatever we have. So, contentment, satisfaction was our watchword. If you steal at that time in the unity school, you are gone forever.

    The environment we were brought up is such that everybody was equal. Equality and rights were the key issues then; there were no privileged students but now, we have privileged Nigerians. We now have injustice and political injustice is the worst form of injustice. On when it started, I can tell you that every government in Nigeria has some good aspects and some bad aspects but we have leaders who are not Nigerians.