The Nation Newspaper

Tag: corruption

  • NJC faults Sagay on recall of suspended judges

    NJC faults Sagay on recall of suspended judges

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) Saturday rejected the accusation made against it by the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay that the Judiciary was not in support of the current administration’s anti-corruption war.

    Insisted that its recent decision to recall the six judges suspended in the wake of  their investigation for corruption allegation by the Department of State Services (DSS),was in order.

    The NJC said in a statement that  the Judiciary was infull  support of the administration’s efforts to curb corrupt practices in the country and would  continue to do so within the ambit of the law.

    The council’s  Director of  Information, Soji Oye,who signed the statement also dismissed claim by the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla that the Federal Government has appealed the acquittal of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court.

    It said investigation by its officials revealed that there was no valid appeal filed yet against the April 5 ruling by Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) acquitting Justice Ademola, his wife and a lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN).

    Justice Okeke had, in the ruling, upheld the no-case submission by Justice Ademola and his co-defendants, charged with corruption related offences. 

    The NJC expressed regret that the Executive was not cooperating with the Judiciary in cases of judges that have been recommended for either sack or compulsory retirement.

    The NJC said: ‘’contrary to the allegations by Professor Itse Sagay, (SAN), Chairman, PACAC, that Judiciary took a hasty decision to recall the Judges, and that it is not on board with anti-graft war of the Federal Government, the number of judicial officers that have been removed from office for misconduct particularly for corrupt practices since President Buhari administration came on board, that has been made public by NJC in October and November, 2016, speaks for itself in that vein.    

    “Some of the judicial officers were removed from office by dismissal or compulsory retirement by the President or Governors on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.  

    “While a number of the judicial officers were reprimanded by Council in the exercise of its Constitutional powers to exercise disciplinary control over judges of superior courts of record in the Federation.’’  

    It claimed that  some of the judicial officers  it  recommended for dismissal or compulsory retirement from office by the presidency or Governors, have not to date been removed from office.  

    It added:”But for suspension of the affected judicial officers from office by NJC, they would have to date been still performing their Judicial duties. 

    “And these are officers that have been found culpable of gross misconduct by National Judicial Council after due process and diligent fact finding investigation by Council based on the Rule of Law enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, NJC Judicial Discipline Regulations and Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  

    “The NJC will soon issue an advertorial on the foregoing and list out the number of judicial officers that have since April, 2000 when it held its inaugural meeting to date, been dismissed or compulsorily retired by the President or Governors for gross misconduct or corrupt practices, on its recommendation; and also reprimanded by council by suspension or warning/caution.

    “Council is not oblivious of the fact that some major stakeholders in the Judiciary and justice delivery sector in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association, met with the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and anti-graft and security agencies before the judicial officers were recalled, to discuss the subject matter and in particular the fate of the judicial officers that have not been charged and arraigned.  

    “When no progress was made, the NJC, which is the only constitutional institution empowered to exercise disciplinary control over judicial officers for misconduct, decided to recall the judicial officers.

    “It is to be stressed that our criminal justice is also predicated on accusatorial system and not inquisitorial.  

    “Thus, every accused person is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.  

    On Obono-Obla’s statement  that the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a notice of appeal against the ruling of  Justice Jude Okeke discharging and acquitting Justice  Ademola and 2 ORS on 7th April, 2017,the council said  the registry of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, informed the Department of Information of the NJC that the AGF office filed two Notices of Appeal in the Court; the first one on 7th April, 2017, against Justice  Ademola, his wife, and  Agi, while the
    second one was filed on 6th of June, 2017, two days after the press release was issued by the NJC, with additional grounds of appeal against only Ademola. 

    “It is on record that when the parties were invited by High Court of the FCT for settlement of records to be transmitted to the Court of Appeal on 18th April, 2017, the Appellant failed to turn up,’’ the NJC said.

  • From Saraki: Six Theses on corruption

    From Saraki: Six Theses on corruption

    It is most fitting that one of the best authorities on the subject took time off the other day to deliver a lecture on corruption, perhaps the most troubling issue of our time.

    I am of course talking about His Excellency the Irremovable President of the Senate of the  8th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Distinguished Senator Dr (with stethoscope) Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    Who indeed is more qualified to expound and dissect that recondite subject with the clinical rigour it calls for than a personage with direct, first-hand experience of the subject as acclaimed suspect in one of the most sensational corruption trials ever staged in Nigeria, as architect of the most labyrinthine strategies ever devised to stall the court process, and as mastermind of the most audacious formula for staying in office and power in the face of corruption charges that would have driven a more squeamish person to permanent self-exile in a distant land?

    Only such a person is qualified to write a riveting foreword to a publication (“Antidote for Corruption:  The Nigerian Story”), its lexically-challenged author, sorry, compiler, titled it and then commend it excathedra to a select audience.  Admission to the event was by invitation only.  It was that kind of event.

    The publication at issue has been described by one professional critic who claims to have seen it as “desultory assemblage” of articles and materials from diverse sources on corruption in Nigeria. Its author, Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) is not bothered in the least, having been constantly at the receiving end of the darts and arrows and slings of the envious on account of his matchless legislative skills, to say nothing of his mastery of the martial arts and his self-advertised prowess in “the other room.”

    Members of his inner circle tell me that he regards all the calumny as the price of success and that he is only too glad to pay it.

    In this time of recession, the outing was worth envying.  A hard cover edition of the compilation  retailed for a princely N50,000 – less than Melaye’s monthly wardrobe allowance but more than three times the minimum monthly wage of N18 000 that many state governments say they cannot afford to pay.

    Saraki purchased a copy for each of the 109 members of the Senate for a total of N5.5 million, and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara  plonked down N18 million for 360 copies for members of the House of Representatives.  And that was just for starters.

    By the time the event was over, Melaye had grossed enough to pay Kogi State public service employees eight months arrears of salary the state government owes them,  and still have enough change to add a Maybach to his fleet of limousines.

    Not bad for a fellow who only several months ago was almost sunk by allegations that he had been earning a living under the false pretence of being a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University.

    By the way, I hope Melaye took care in the usual manner of the little matter of copyright the materials he re-published.  Otherwise, he should not be surprised to discover that not even Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are at liberty to appropriate the literary and artistic works of other persons just like that.

    But enough about Dino the Compiler.

    Far more germane to the national policy dialogues is the seminal speech Saraki delivered on the occasion.  I have the highest confidence that it will go down as one of  the most important addresses of this age.

    What follows is my distillation from the speech, for the benefit of the reader in particular and posterity in general.  I call it “One Puzzle and Five Theses on Corruption.”  The puzzle and the theses are in italics, followed by my brief, interrogative commentary.

    The Puzzle:

    Do countries become more corrupt because the people are poor or are the people poor because the country is corrupt?

    That, Distinguished Senator, is the old chicken-and-egg puzzle.  And as you rightly noted, we may never be able to answer it to everyone’s satisfaction.

    But what is your learned view on the matter?  Your answer will contribute greatly to the anti- corruption war.

    First Thesis                                                                                                                          

    “If the purpose of government is to improve the quality of lives of its people, then any conversation about corruption must focus primarily on how it affects human development, whether it is health, wealth or education.”

    An insightful proposition, Distinguished Senator.  Again, what is your experience here?  Does corruption impede or advance public health, public education, and other aspects of human development?

    In what ways?

    Second Thesis:

    In the past two years, corruption has been forced to the top of our political agenda.  The people are demanding more openness, more accountability and more convictions.  Those of us in government are also responding, joining the conversation and accepting that the basis of our legitimacy as a government is our manifest accountability to the people.                                                                                                                                                   

    Not proven, Senator. The evidence of your acceptance of accountability to the people as the basis of your legitimacy is scant.  Impunity seems entrenched in the driver’s seat.

    Third Thesis

    If we want Nigerians to trust their government again, then government at all levels must demonstrate that we are not in office for the pursuit of private gains, but to make our people happier by helping them to meet their legitimate aspirations and achieve a higher quality of life…

    Capital, Senator.  Capital.

    It is going to be hard, Senator, but you really must demonstrate not just with one grand gesture but with all you do that you and your colleagues are not in office for private gain.  It would be more convincing still if you and your colleagues divested yourselves of the private gains you had made before your conversion to public service.

    Fourth Thesis

    In fighting corruption, we have favoured punishment over deterrence. That is why the fight has achieved only limited success.  We must build systems that make it much more difficult to carry out corrupt practices or to find a safe haven within our borders for the fruit of corruption.

    Would you also recommend that preventive approach for combating all other crimes, Senator? And how is it to be operationalised?  Former president Goodluck Jonathan said he fought corruption to a standstill by simply not making money available for stealing, and we all know the result.

    What is your own strategy, Senator?

    And if we ensure that there are no safe havens for corrupt practices at home, can we do the same on those foreign shores with which you are quite familiar?

    Fifth Thesis                                                                                                                   

    Corrupt officials profit from bureaucratic complexity and red tape.  Therefore we need to simplify administrative procedure.

    Right on the mark, Senator.  Unexceptionable.

    Sixth Thesis

    Low level corruption is largely powered more by need even than by greed.  Therefore, if we are able to build a quality public education system that is affordable, especially at the basic and secondary level, an efficient public health system that provides insurance cover to ordinary citizens and build a system that guarantees food and shelter to everyone, we would have gone a long way in removing much of the driving force for corruption at this level.”

    No Socialist Manifesto ever framed the issue more coherently, Distinguished Senator.  And your own example bears you out.  It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Kwara State, which you governed directly for eight years and which your proxy has been governing for the past six years has consistently been voted the least corrupt state in Nigeria.

    And it explains why your Administration in Kwara was voted as the least corrupt that has ever held office in Nigeria.

    Your prescription may not do much to help curb corruption at a higher level, the type driven by untrammelled greed rather than desperate need.

    But thank you, Your Excellency, for leading the anti-corruption war by personal example.

  • Onnoghen and judicial corruption

    It would amount to a fundamental contradiction in the current war against corruption to ignore the weighty issues just raised by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen on why corruption festers within the judiciary.

    He said the independence of the judiciary and its ability to dispense justice unhindered are threatened by federal governments’ agents and politicians. The CJN, who regretted the rising castigation and accusation of judicial officers for corrupt practices by agents of the federal government and politicians without giving them an opportunity to be heard, said the nation would get it right when the leadership abides by the constitution and rule of law.

    Though he spoke vaguely on how agents of the federal government hinder the ability of the judiciary to perform its statutory duties, he nonetheless illustrated the undue influence of politicians in judicial matters with the case of the Anambra Central Senatorial election where Senator Uche Ekwunife reportedly accused the judiciary of robbing her of her mandate without evidence.

    With the seeming focus on the malfeasance within the judiciary; especially following the sting operation by the DSS in which they stormed the residences of some judges, arrested and detained them, the issues raised by the CJN must be taken very seriously if we aim at a lasting solution to the corruption in that arm. The import of the CJN’s statement is that both the independence of the judiciary and its ability to dispense justice without fear or favour are corrupted and compromised by the obstructive proclivities of both agents of the federal government and politicians.

    Though Onnoghen did not come out with supporting data (for reasons that are obvious) on how this happens especially in respect of agents of the government, it is not difficult to fathom the ramifications of the undue influence a government in power could exercise on judicial decisions especially where their interest is involved. It is for this reason that modern constitutions provide for the independence of the judiciary and checks and balances between the three arms of the government.

    Despite this constitutional guarantee for judicial independence, what you find on ground is that of undue interference in judicial matters by the government of the day. It comes in varying dimensions. The sting operation by the DSS is one of such interferences. Though touted as part of the anti-corruption war of the current regime, that strategy detracted substantially from extant procedure for disciplining erring judicial officers. The constitution vests that power on the National Judicial Council NJC.  But that is just one dimension of it.

    As at now, one of the judges accused has been discharged and acquitted by the court. Yet, he is unable to resume duties. Another who suffered the raid and arrest has had no charge brought against him. Yet, he cannot resume duties. One of the justices even openly accused the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) of trying to settle scores with him for issues they had years before his (AGF’s) appointment.

    Apart from overt interference by agents of the government, incidences of covert influences are not in doubt. Perhaps, this point will find ample justification when we look at election cases that come before the judiciary. It has more or less become an axiom on these shores that a government in power cannot lose election petitions.

    That is why you easily hear – “declare the result and let them go to court”. Embodied in this statement is the notion that even glaring cases of electoral malpractices that come before the tribunals can still go either way depending on who is involved and the weight of his influence or purse. In this, both the judicial officers who lend themselves to corruption and the politicians or agents of government who deploy devious strategies to pervert the course of justice are culpable.

    Not only do governments in power (federal and state) put undue pressure (monetary and otherwise) on the judiciary to pervert the course of justice, they also entice them with some other mouth-watering promises. So the issues are real. Just a fortnight back, the same CJN alerted the nation that politicians made serious overtures to influence the outcome of the Abia State governorship election before the apex court.

    That is nothing new to the ordinary Nigerian. It is also not new on these shores that some judges come to the court with two judgments in their pockets and the one that eventually carries the day would depend on who among the parties is the highest bidder. That is how bad the situation has become. That is also why the public wanted the judges to be dealt with even outside the law when their privacy was invaded by the DSS.

    Perhaps as justified as the anger of the public was, it did not take into account the fact that the same government and politicians who want the heads of the erring judges for the unabashed corruption within that arm of government are neck deep in providing and facilitating both the necessary and sufficient conditions for the embarrassing corruption that thrives within our judicial system.

    That is the unmistakable point that has been brought to the fore by the CJN. And we can ignore it at a great peril to the current fight against corruption. Even the procedure for the appointment of judges in this country is not such that sufficiently makes for the independence and impartiality of judicial officers. Recurring agitations for judicial reforms illustrate this point most vividly.

    In effect, for us to win the war against corruption either in the judiciary or the larger society in which the judiciary operates, we must take a comprehensive and holistic perspective of the matter. It is not an issue ad hoc intervention by the DSS can reasonably remedy. Even then, as an agency of the executive arm of the government, there is no guarantee that such interventions are not part of a script by agents of the government to get even with judges that refuse to do their bidding.

    We should be more concerned with building strong institutions rather than relying on the vicissitudes of ad hoc measures. And as the CJN succinctly captured, the nation can win the war against corruption if the leadership abides by the constitution and rule of law.

    Where the laws are deemed highly limited in fighting corruption, the solution does not lie in going outside them no matter the constraints. This is because, in the task of fighting corruption within the judiciary, the government could also compromise the independence and integrity of that arm- factors that stand it out as the last hope of the common man. The solution lies in respect for the constitution and the rule of law.

    And where the need arises, processes for constitutional and judicial reforms could be activated. These are more lasting perspectives than the resort to self-help as was the case with the DSS intervention. For, both the government and politicians could as well be the greatest obstacles to the impartiality and independence of the judiciary.

    A similar scenario was equally evident in the recent alarm by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons. Those undisclosed political reasons have been interpreted as invitation to overthrow the civilian government.

    The parallel here is that just as the government and politicians are part of the corruption chain in the judiciary, both the military and civilians are two sides of the same coin in any attempt to terminate prematurely a democratic government. So we need to take all these factors along in evolving holistic and more enduring therapies against the scourge corruption and military coups.

  • Corruption, not restructuring is our bane

    SIR: There has been a renewed agitation for making the component states of the federation more productive by flipping the exclusive legislative lists in favour of the federating states. Proponents of this reform have suggested various nomenclatures such as restructuring, true federalism etc.

    One major derivative of that reform is the institution of state police.

    A major downside of restructuring with state policing as a derivative is that it is cast in the media as a zero-sum game.

    For instance, there seems to be a generic consensus that the topmost in the list of problems bedevilling the Nigerian nation is corruption yet proponents of restructuring cannot see any need to push various anti-corruption bills with the National Assembly through as an alternative to a swiping restructuring that may feed the incentive for civil war.

    The Police Reform Trust Fund Bill has been domiciled at the National Assembly (NASS) since 2008 yet the legislature is not in a hurry to pass the bill.

    A governor that can use his security details to physically prevent EFCC or DSS from performing their jobs cannot be entrusted with state police. The decibels resonating restructuring must be moderated with guarded introspection.

    What we forget is that what constrains any Nigerian president in turning the police to personal agent of vendetta is the oversight function of the NASS. This oversight restraint is absolutely absent at the state level where state Houses of Assembly are mere appendages of the executive.

    A social media clip where a legislator was kneeling down to beg a state governor for merely criticising the governor can attest to the master-servant relationships that exist between the executive and the legislature at the state level.

    It is trite to say that toothless state assemblies pose a veritable danger to the orchestrated true federalism particularly as it affects state police.

    Rather than pushing this nebulous restructuring that spells doom for the corporate existence of Nigeria with civil war as a proximate corollary, the NASS should progressively pass reformative bills pending with it.

    Nobody has articulated how restructuring will end corruption yet the more allocation various states of the federation get, the more impoverished the people become, the more governance is degraded and the more reckless governors become.

    Corruption and not restructuring deserves the greatest attention.

     

    • Bukola Ajisola,

    bukymany@yahoo.com

  • Bakare: corruption major cause of poverty

    Bakare: corruption major cause of poverty

    The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has described corruption as the major cause of the country’s poverty.

    Corruption, the cleric said,  must be vigorously addressed to unlock the population from the cycle of misery.

    He spoke at the Gala Night organised in honour of Rev. W.A. Badejo’s 70th birthday over the weekend in Lagos.

    Bakare, who was the guest speaker, spoke on the theme: “The cure for extreme poverty and corruption in Nigeria”.

    The cleric noted that corruption proceeded poverty and the two scourges feed off each other, adding that greed as against need leads to corruption.

    He said: “How else does one explain the mysterious billions of naira, millions of dollars and thousands ofpounds being unearthed in bizarre locations, including a soak-away pit, an empty apartment, and a cemetery? I understand from budget analyst that the monies traced to the former head of a parastatal could found major hydro and solar power projects, construct major roads and still purchase hundred units of 11kv transformers. That these funds were found idle in their hideouts indicates that they were diverted not to meet the need of the diverters but to serve their greed.”

    He added that aside the fact that corruption denies citizens access to resources and opportunities, it encourages laziness, discourages culture of diligence and professionalism.

    To further understand the interplay between corruption and poverty, he noted that three of the world’s poorest countries last year were on the list of top 10 most corrupt countries of the same year.

    According to the cleric,  seven of the top most violent countries in the world in 2016 were among the top 10 most corrupt countries that year, adding that corruption is closely associated with poverty, failing educational institutions, low standard of living and violence.

    Bakare noted that the best approach to curtail the spread of corruption was the spiritual approach.

    He said: “Human attempts at combatting corruption have often ignored the fact that man is three-dimensional being – being a spirit, possessing a soul and living in a body.

    “Anti-corruption strategies have often been restricted to physiological, the physical and the psychological, which deals with the soul. There is, however, a foundational level anti-corruption philosophy that can significantly limit the spread of corruption in the country. It is the spiritual approach, which seeks the rebirth of the individual.”

  • Why corruption persists

    SIR: As human beings, there is often a dark part of our lives which nobody can access. I have one and you have one as well. Sigmund Freud said that it resembles the brain of a child, which will crave for something and insists on getting it or else raise hell in tantrums or sulk.

    At this moment of our lives as a nation, we usually put the blame of corruption at the doorstep of mismanagement. But as a matter of fact, we are all basically corrupt people with very few exceptions – black or white, Jew or gentile. A lot of us are driven by base instincts, and we either mask or hide these instincts because time and chance have not given us availability and opportunity.

    We want this, and we must have it even though we have not invested in the factors for the production of that that we crave for.  Corruption therefore is a craving based on either the development or underdevelopment of our minds. A poor man – and I use the word ‘poor’ without its pecuniary connotations – who gets within the corridors of power and has access to public funds will dip their fingers in the public purse. So will a ‘rich’ person. It’s all up there in our minds: the desire to build big houses, and buy fancy cars and drive around with beautiful women is driven by a craving. A craving is a thing that you always do without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop.

    A policeman who is poorly paid will still go to his beat knowing that on that his beat, there will be delinquents whom he can exploit. Once we allow our cravings to control us to the point of making them a routine and get rewarded somehow, corruption therefore becomes a strong habit. Habits are not demographic, gender sensitive and have no respect for class, race or creed. Once a habit takes hold, it becomes a parasite feeding on a host, and begins to ensure the survival of that host only because it wants to survive.

    Development will not take place if our minds are not developed first. All development comes from the mind, whether physical, spiritual or otherwise. But we must break the deadly habit of corruption by adhering to certain principles. Typical habits survive via a chain wherein there is a craving routinely executed and which mostly produces rewards.  We must try to do things differently, break the routine to transform our minds. A smoker will not quit smoking if there’s no alternative that will replace the reward the smoker gets from smoking.

     

    • Bob M. Etemiku,

    <majirioghene@yahoo.com>

  • ‘Corruption thrives without student-activism’

    If impunity and endemic corruption among the political class must be checked by the youth, there is need to rejig students activism, Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly (NSHA), Rt. Hon. Ahmad Marafa Guni, has said.

    Guni’s statement was corroborated by the Commissioner of Education, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, who said the absence of a resolute, focused and uncompromising student-activism made corruption and impunity to flourish among public office holders.

    The duo spoke in separate meetings with the newly-inaugurated leaders of National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS).

    Guni said Studen-unionism is weak and could not be a credible pressure group because of student leaders’ greed and penchant for flambouyant lifestyle on campuses. The Speaker said the current idea of student-unionism could only make youths become effective leaders of tomorrow if students’ activism is driven by the objective to hold political leaders accountable for their actions.

    Guni said it would be impossible to have effective activism at a time when students’ leaders compete with corrupt politicians in the race to amass material wealth and live flambouyantly.

    He said: “Now is the time for students’ leaders and youths to have an attitudinal change and moral rebirth. Students need to get rid of their trivial ideas and outdated perception about leadership. Being a leader has more to do with efficient service delivery to the people. But, we have student-activists who are in competition with corrupt politicians to embezzle funds to satisfy their flambouyant lifestyle.”

    The Speaker said the NSHA had prioritised students’ welfare more than before, noting that a motion on the need to overhaul the state’s scholarship scheme was recently moved in the legislature to improve the scheme for the benefit of more students.

    Welcoming the NANISS leaders in her office, Hajiya Madugu described student-unionism as a breeding platform for leaders, but stressed that only morally sound and knowledgeable youths could be groomed for leadership.

    She advised the student-leaders to eschew negative vices and corrupt acts, disclosing that the ministry recently introduced a policy blueprint aimed at equipping students with entrepreneurial and vocational skills.

    She said: “The government has embarked on an aggressive construction and rehabilitation of dilapidated structures in the state-owned higher institutions, with a view to creating a friendly atmosphere and an enabling environment for learning. We have also reviewed the scholarship scheme for students, which is an indication that the government is committed to sanitising education in the state. We urge you to be our partner in this move, and offer us your constructive and objective criticisms.”

    The NANISS president, Abdulkadir Abugi, promised that the association would support the government in its youth development drive. He said the visit was to learn leadership values from their hosts, who he described as “exemplary public office holders”.

  • Adeboye to FG: tell us plans on recovered loots

    Adeboye to FG: tell us plans on recovered loots

    Nigerians deserve to know how government plans to spend the recovered loots to enhance probity and transparency in governance.

    This was the submission of general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

    He spoke last Sunday at the special prayer and thanksgiving for officials of public and private sector with their families at the National Headquarters of RCCG, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebutte-Metta, Lagos

    He said that the amount of looted funds recovered by the current government is huge and a sign of moral degeneration across the country.

    Adeboye insisted Nigerians deserve know how the recovered loots will be utilised as well as how much has been recovered.

    He suggested the $43million recovered from Osborne Towers flat can be used to renovate all airports while the $9milion recovered from residence of the former Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) Andrew Yakubu can repair all roads across the country.

    Citing a recent request by some companies in Malaysia for repair of roads in the country, Adeboye argued “the budget presented by the company for the construction is less than the money recovered by the former NNPC boss.”

    He pointed out poverty mentality and acts of wickedness are responsible for the wide spate of corruption, saying it can be tackled through nationwide campaign on good moral values.

    The respected cleric said: “My father told me when I was a child that I should not destroy the family’s name with my action and I also tell my children the same things. So we can be careful and live in consonance with the scriptures.”

    Adeboye, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, emphasised the needs for urgent resuscitation of moral standards, lamenting Nigerians play higher premium on money than productivity and value.

    “We need all stakeholders to team up together to keep drumming the support for the return of our moral standard for us to have a more humane society.

    “Let us bring back the songs, rhythms and poems that talk about good moral lifestyle and celebrate people with high moral integrity for others to learn,” he stressed.

    He described the media trial of anti-corruption agencies as unnecessary, warning it could smear the names of innocent people.

    “The anti- corruption agencies should be properly funded and empowered so that they can do thorough investigation on alleged corrupt cases rather than swim up unhealthy public sentiments in name of fighting corruption,” he advised.

     

     

  • Soyinka urges EFCC to prosecute detractors on fight against corruption

    Soyinka urges EFCC to prosecute detractors on fight against corruption

    Nigeria’s Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, on Saturday in Lagos, called for the prosecution of those he described as detractors in the fight against corruption in the country.

    Prof. Soyinka made the call at the opening of his Vision of the Child Art Exhibition, 2017 edition, at Freedom Park, Lagos with the theme: Enhance the Heritage; Advance the Future, in celebrating Lagos at 50.

    He said that most times, the anti-corruption agency was sent on the wrong track or wild goose chase, resulting to no prosecution.

    “When we talk about corruption, is it not time we legislate against detractors, who deliberately create distraction. Say for instance, the money just found in Lagos.

    ‘‘One governor claimed that the money belongs to his state government, claiming a proceed from the sale of some turbines and so on.

    ‘‘It is a criminal act of distraction. He knew very well that he was lying, that the money was not his, but belongs to someone else.

    ‘‘Obviously, acting in the interest of those accused of corruption that to me is connivance and collaboration with corrupt people.

    ‘‘I think such people should be criminalised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” he said.

    Soyinka, who commended the art works of the children, expressed the hope that with children exposing the corruption acts of the adults Nigeria would be in for better days.

    Speaking , the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, said the commission’s operation was not limited to investigation and prosecution of offenders, but also to enlighten the public on the dangers of corruption.

    Magu said the painting exhibition was one way to educate and enlighten people about corruption, stressing that the paintings exposed some ways in which adults were involved in corrupt practices.

    “My views of the Nigerian child, from the across the plains, the hills, the forests and the swamps of Nigeria are those of innocence and boundless creativity.

    ‘‘However, like most of the older generation, many of our youths seem also to be trapped in cocoons of corruption, which have built around them.

    “However, Professor Soyinka’s “Vision of the Child” project and the sheer breadth and depth of these paintings by these youngsters, demonstrate very well that our children have an acute awareness of what is going on around them and are breaking free of the shackles of corruption.

    “They also show the determination of the younger generation for their voices to be heard.

    ‘‘The uncomfortable questions they are asking us are; how and why did we allow this beautiful country to be turned into the cesspit of corruption?

    “These paintings speak to all strata of our society and to every flank of the war against corruption and the common message I see running through all of them is: we will never give up on the ideals of a just and equitable society.

    “The vision I see so eloquently expressed in these wonderful pieces of art is that of the irrepressible Nigerian spirit, refusing to be put down and reaching out for the Nigeria of our collective dreams: the Nigeria where our commonwealth is used for our common good and not looted by a few greedy, self-centred lot.

    “I can confirm to you that corruption is already fighting back.

    ‘‘But, even though massive resources have been deployed to fight back at EFCC, we draw strength and encouragement to carry on from the likes of these children and Prof Wole Soyinka.

    ‘‘We draw the courage to soldier on from millions of ordinary Nigerians whose desires are for equity and social justice,” he said.

    Magu said that the EFCC was not personal in the discharge of its mandate; stressing that its personnel only fear God, with the guiding principles by the Rule of Law and the overriding interest of the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 38 students selected from different schools, participated in literary and painting works at the exhibition. (NAN)

  • ‘Nigeria can only fight corruption with strong institutions’

    ‘Nigeria can only fight corruption with strong institutions’

    The negative aspect of corruption is that people take the money outside the country. they will go and spent it elsewhere, so that we will all miss the opportunity for development. If they can steal and spend it within Nigeria, Nigerians will benefit. But, when they take it out, we will start to lose as a nation. That is the most terrible aspect of corruption.

    People in Gujba and Gulani are displaced by the Boko haram insurgency. The communities needs rehabilitation and reconstruction. Can we know the position of the Northeast Development Commission?

    Well, Gujba and Gulani were once completely taken over by Boko haram militants. For over two years, I have not been able to go to my village. this is to tell you how serious the situation was. now, peace has returned. Most of the boko haram have been killed or disappeared, and people are going back to their villages.

    It‘s fortunate that we could not hold election in some of the liberated communities, because pockets of the Boko haram militants in those locations are still heating on soft targets. but, definitely, they don’t have a territorial control of even a square inch of Gulani and Gujba local government areas.

    As peace gradually returned, the state government is helping a lot in carrying food and all sorts of basic human requirements to those communities, and people will use the facilities to clear their farms in this rainy season.

    The Northeast Development Commission is a permanent body just like Niger Delta Development Commission; it will attract budgetary attention and allocation every year. We have gone through the first reading and second reading. what remains is the third reading and the passage of the bill. And there has not been any opposition from anybody on this commission. So, it is just a matter of patience and things well be all right.

    But people in these communities have returned without shelter, some even sleep in an open…

    The return of peace is the biggest consoling factor in all the equation. things will continue to get better and government will continue to help at the local, state and federal levels. In addition to that, the national assembly members’ caucuses on geopolitical zones are also helping matters. We have recently met and agreed that every senator should donate the  sum of N1 million and every member, house of representatives N500, 000. The money will be directly deducted and then, whatever the national assembly leadership gives will be put together and brought  to them as assistance. We have been doing that over and over again.

    What is your take on the Saraki case?

    Well, Saraki saga is an unfortunate saga.  The  saga is a saga, it will still continue. Saraki will be tried; the court will definitely make their pronouncement. Whatever the court decides, we will obey the court. The worst that could happen is to go to the Supreme Court where everything ends. But, I can assure you that 99 percent of the senate is behind Saraki for a simple reason that we are all human beings and we do make mistakes.

    When you stay as a governor for eight years or a big man for many years, there is no way you can account for every kobo. So, if anybody wants to investigate you thoroughly, he will find a fault here and there. They may not necessarily be a falsehood you are intended in any way to harm the economy or not intended to be a financial crime as being speculated.

    But, do you believe that the trial is politically motivated?

    I believe so, but politically motivated from which angle? It looks like it is a local political motivation from Kwara. Definitely, President Muhammadu Buhari has no hand, and definitely the federal government of Nigeria did not initiate it. It was a local politics in Ilorin. People made complaints. They gave out the details of what they thought Saraki had and he didn’t declare. That was how EFCC came in and started investigation.

    You said it would be difficult for somebody to be a governor for eight years and make no mistake. Do we assume that former governors in the senate were in solidarity with Saraki?

    Of course, yes. You pretty knew that there are so many governors who are in the same shoes with Saraki, whose trials have been initiated, but they were not publicised like that of Saraki because he is the Senate president. Almost every former governor in the senate with the exception of Bukar Abba Ibrahim has one case or the other with EFCC or CCT. Some had even died like the case like Alamas… or Alamesia (Alamieyeseigha) and others.

    It’s not easy to fight corruption, especially when it comes to an individual. That is why those of us do believe that corruption can best be dealt with through institutions. Let’s strengthen our institution. Stop giving out bribe and also taking  bribes. If nobody gives out, nobody takes and all things being equal. Institutional fight against corruption is actually the best fight we can have as a nation. It has begun and it will continue for a very long time.

    The negative aspect of corruption is that people take the money outside the country. they will go and spent it elsewhere, so that we will all miss the opportunity for development. If they can steal and spend it within Nigeria, Nigerians will benefit. But, when they take it out, we will start to lose as a nation. That is the most terrible aspect of corruption.

    But, there is this apprehension that, if the court verdict does not favour Saraki, the PDP will take control of the House. In fact, some even said that the PDP has taken over the Senate?

    How, Why? The APC is still in the majority; whether Saraki is in or out, there is no way PDP can take over senate presidency with the presence of over 60 senators from APC against 50 PDP senators. There is just no way.

    The last time, they had what they had. The PDP had to come in and assist Saraki to win Senate President. Because so many APC senators were asked to go to the International Conference Centre, we were there and we don’t even know what was happening. they had the election. So, the PDP were in the majority then and they forced the APC who are in the minority then to agree that Saraki is the President and Ekweremadu is the deputy senate president.

    It‘s not that in any way we are against Ike Ekweremadu. he is a good legislator. I don’t mind him continuing to be deputy senate president, because he is a very decent human being. But there is no way the leadership will be taken over by PDP.

    When you contested for Presidency with President Muhammadu Buhari, you said at the eagle square that Buhari was unsellable.  Do you still hold to that impression?

    I attempted. I absolutely believe in Buhari. I absolutely believed in his leadership. He has been tested, tried and found to be worthy leader. He is a leader who is incorruptible, honest, transparent, and straightforward and a leader who will tell you direct as he knows and understand.

    Besides, at that time I wanted to be president, do you want me to be praising Buhari or what?

    Is it because you are in the same political party that is why you are praising him now?

    No, we were in the same political party when I stepped down for him, and condemned him. Because I wanted to be president, so I needed  to get something against him, no matter how minor. But now, we are on the same page, the same party, and I really trust him.

    The government of APC will be one year old on May 29. As a senator, what do you think is the problem with the administration?

    You know, when things go wrong for a very long period of time, improving it  and bringing normalcy will never be easy, it takes time. President Muhammadu Buhari has collected, now in his custody over N2.5 trillion from people whom with impunity stole our money within the period of nearly one year you have talked about, and he is still collecting.

    What is now delaying things is the lack of the passage of the bill on the budget.  It will be illegal for the President to spend any money without appropriation. He is waiting for appropriation, and I understand that by next week, he will sign the budget, budget would be law and once it becomes law, Buhari will be the most anxious to implement it. I know the kind of hardship people are going through. We, the elected people, know how it bites our pockets, everyday from Monday to Friday I have to send out N300,000 to N400,000 to people in dire  need in my constituency and other areas. I believed other legislators are also under the same problem. So, our hope is that thing will be better very soon, InshaAllah.

    You have been elected three times as governor and now senator for the third time. There is the rumour that Governor Gaidam will contest your position, having come from the same zone. Will you contest with him?

    Well, 2019 is still very far away from now. I haven’t thought about it at all, but I can assure you if the governor wants to have my senatorial seat in 2019, it is all his. I have had enough. I made my contributions, I  have made my point. I have a lot of other things to do, particularly educating my children, taking care of my farm, my constituency, my state and appearing in national affairs. So, I don’t think there is going to be any controversy at all. If he wants, it I will hand over to him and he doesn’t want it, I will take it. And, definitely, will not have primary election with governor Ibrahim Gaidam not to talk about having election again him in the PDP. I will never be in PDP; of course I will always oppose PDP because they are on the right wing politics and I am always at the left wing politics whether slightly or further down.

    The name Bukar Abba Ibrahim is a household name in Yobe politics and the country as a whole. Can you survive without politics?

    I started politics right from primary school like Malam Aminu Kano. I have been in politic for the last 60 years, on and off. So, I do intend to be on the left till I die, and I will continue to contribute till  I die because no human being will live forever.