The Nation Newspaper

Tag: corruption fight

  • Corruption fight: Private investigator seeks cooperation of NASS, Judiciary

    The Special Investigator to the Special Presidential Panel for the Recovery of Public Property,  recently appointed by the federal government to help trace and recover looted funds, Victor Uwajeh, has said that the war on corruption case won by the collaboration of all Nigerians, including the National Assembly and the Judiciary.

    Uwajeh, a London based Nigeria private investigator who was reacting to his appointment assured the government and Nigerians that all the looted funds and property, no matter where they are hidden will be recovered to better the country.

    He sought the cooperation of the National Assembly and the judiciary for the success of anti-corruption fight and to ensure that all looted funds and undeclared property are recovered and return to the government.

    While appreciating the government for giving him the opportunity to serve his fatherland, Uwajeh said “President Buhari relentless efforts have yielded great success in curbing corruption and impunity in Nigeria. It is no longer business as usual. The government has made looting unattractive and the indication is that the rate of acquisition of foreign assets has dropped drastically.

    “I wish to state that we will recover all foreign properties and funds of Politically Exposed Persons, their allies and cronies no matter the jurisdiction. We will trace and return all tax payers funds and ill-gotten properties stolen from the commonwealth of Nigeria.

    “The war on corruption is a collective one. We seek the cooperation of the judiciary and the national assembly in this arduous task. The war against corruption is a tough one, but we are tested professionals that are immune to blackmail and intimidation.”

    While giving assurance of taking the job seriously, Uwajeh commended Barrister Okoi Obono Obla, “for his focus, drive and zeal to recover stolen assets.”

    Read Also: Fed Govt appoints investigator to trace loot

  • Lagos lawyer: whistleblowing helping corruption fight

    Lagos lawyer: whistleblowing helping corruption fight

    Human rights lawyer Festus Keyamo has lauded the whistleblowing policy of the Federal Government as an effective tool in tackling corruption.
    Keyamo told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the various revelations about money stashed and abandoned in some places were the positive effect of the whistle-blowing.
    “People are now ready to blow whistle, the populace now have confidence in assisting the government to fight corruption through whistleblowing.
    “The war against corruption, which seemed to be lost, is now turning back to a win situation and revival for the country. The only warning is that we are not yet there but we have taken a huge step forward.
    “Whistleblowing is very good and everybody is now a watchdog. I commend the policy, a situation whereby everybody can raise alarm and also alert the Economic Financial and Crime Commission (EFCC).
    “We are gradually winning but we are not there yet as there are many things to be done in this regard,’’ he said.
    Keyamo said though whistleblowing had recorded some success stories, there must be diligent investigation before trial in court to forestall loss of corruption cases.
    “The second part of the anti-corruption fight is that we must strengthen the arm of prosecution, if we don’t want corruption cases as an exercise in futility.
    “The investigative part of the alleged crime must be diligent so that by the time people are taken to court, the case is solid enough and it will be easy for the prosecution to do the job.
    “In most cases, by the time the case gets to the prosecutor, the case is hazardly done. But on the other way round, investigation should have been properly carried out and prosecutor will do his part.
    “Investigation must be thorough before it gets to the prosecutors, it is important that investigations are well-sorted out so that the prosecution becomes easy,’’ he said.

  • Olanipekun: I never said corruption fight is ‘circus show’

    Olanipekun: I never said corruption fight is ‘circus show’

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) yesterday denied a report in which he was quoted as saying that the fight against corruption is a circus show.
    He said the report titled: “No one is fighting corruption, it’s a circus show,” did not emanate from him.
    Olanipekun said strange quotes were added to a convocation lecture he delivered at the Ekiti State University (EKSU).
    He said the lecture titled: “Breaking the jinx -The cyclical nature of Nigeria’s problems” was delivered on March 30.
    “In a most unfair manner, some lines, words, adjectives, sentences and phrases which were not part of the lecture, and which I never intended to include in the lecture, have now been added under the above caption, and has now been published, distributed, and disseminated as having emanated from me; and also as my reaction to the recent discovery of large sums of money in different currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
    “The general public is hereby informed that the said publication is not mine. It is not only strange, but also alien to me.
    “I did not make or authorise it; neither did I grant any interview, make any comment or express any opinion, either in respect of the discovered cache, the EFCC as an institution or Mr. Ibrahim Magu as a person.
    “The EFCC disclosed the discovery of the different cash sums to the public on April 12 whilst the convocation lecture I delivered at EKSU was so done on March 30. Naturally and logically, on the said March 30, I could not have commented on an event that was to occur 13 days thereafter.
    “Without being immodest, I have been intervening in national affairs over the years with altruistic and patriotic motives as part of my own humble contributions to the larger and enduring interest of the Nigerian collective. Whenever I so intervene, I do it publicly through avenues that are properly recorded and defined.
    “Having put the foregoing on record, I dissociate myself wholly, completely and unreservedly from the said publication, and advise those who are behind it to either refrain from its further or continued publication, or be bold enough to put their names as the authors and/or publishers,” Olanipekun said.

  • Jonathan undermining corruption fight, says Balarabe

    Former Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of undermining the nation’s anti-corruption crusade by protecting the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah accused of her involvement in the N255 million bullet proof car purchase.

    Musa who spoke at a brief ceremony marking his 77th birthday at his Kaduna residence said that Jonathan’s trip to the Israel in company of the minister and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) was a clear indication that the President was not interested in unravelling the mystery behind the vehicles even though he has set up a committee to investigate the matter.

    Visibly disappointed, the former governor said that despite the allegations against the minister, the President took her to Israel in company of the National Security Adviser who was asked to be part of those to investigate the involvement of the minister in the armoured vehicle purchase.

    He said “we believe that this was done to pave way for negotiations to take place so that she can be left off the hook. Why should the President travel with her and the NSA. Could he not have gone with another person? Tafawa Balewa and other past leaders would not have done that.

    “Why should the President of a country fighting corruption behave in such a way to suggest a cover-up in this case involving Stella Oduah? Whoever appears to cover up a corrupt person is himself corruptible. This is suggestive of the fact that the government has practically insinuated that the fight against corruption is a hoarse”.

    The second republic governor however said that for the nation to get out of its present predicament, leaders must learn to pursue public interest rather than personal interest that has become the order of public service in the country.

    He said that rather than the system and leaders being based on public interest, it is currently based on self-interest, pointing out that in today’s Nigeria, we have leaders who openly are thieves, saying “today in Nigeria, we are led by thieves, except for a few who are still honest”.