The Nation Newspaper

Tag: corruption

  • Corruption and Underdevelopment

    In his book: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, Walter Rodney, Guyanese scholar and activist, logically linked Africa’s underdevelopment to the exploitation suffered in the hands of capitalist Europe and North America. But perhaps what is sustaining Africa’s underdevelopment more than any other cause is corruption. This is particularly so in Nigeria. So, as Rodney argued with regards to solving Africa’s underdevelopment, unless the cankerworm of corruption is bucked in Nigeria, not much progress can be made.

    As independent Nigeria gets older, the tragedy seemsmore compounded. For it is the public officials, particularly the political elites, which is in control ofrelevant state agencies that is also the biggest culprit in the business of corruption. So, for a real change to take place, it is either the politicalelites willingly commit to change or it is forcedto change, before our country can make any form of genuineprogress for the sorely needed development.

    Of note, our challenge is unlike in the capitalist Europe and North America, where their political leaders are not the major culprits in the business of corruption, and so can choose to fight it, if they wish. Here, the major culprits are the public officials, who use their privileged positions to steal from the common till. Perhaps the avowed determination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government ‘to kill corruption’, even when that effort and failings elsewhere are making his government increasingly vulnerable and less popular, is a manifestation of this great dilemma.

    The checklist of allegations of massive corruption within the ruling political class dates back to the first republic. It also permeated the military ruling class that forcefully overthrew the corrupt civilian government. If we are to believe those who sacked the second republic, corruption was the reason for their intervention, but soon enough, the new military overlords also overran the civilians in corrupt practices. Our recent political leaders have fared even worse, and the direct effect on our country is debilitating poverty everywhere.

    Reading through Rodney’s book, it is such a huge tragedy that more than 40 years after he wrote his thesis, his analysis of the challenges facing the underdeveloped countries remain quite similar. Way back in 1972, Rodney wrote: “Much of the national income which remains within the country goes to pay individuals who are not directly involved in producing wealth but only in rendering auxiliary services –civil servants, merchants, soldiers, entertainers, etc….”

    Rodney thus propounded: “It has been noted with irony that the principal ‘industry’ of many underdeveloped countries is administration”. Nigeria is a principal culprit of this averment. Take our bloated civil service, whether at the centre or in the states; that ‘unproductive industry’ is so massive, and despite attempts, no government has been able to bring the number close to what is merely needed for efficiency. In recent times, the entire energy of many state executive governors are now concentrated on how to meet the financial obligations of this ‘unproductive industry’.

    Even the largely ‘unproductive 36 state executives’ across the country, is a further manifestation of this challenge. Many have correctly argued that with the 774 local governments and 36 states, Nigeria is more poorly governed than in the first republic, with much less administrative organs.Again, with recent re-indictment of about 31 former chief executives of states who served between 1999 and 2011 by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, it is clear that what we suffer is a double whammy, with an ‘over-bloated unproductive’ bureaucracy plus massive corruption.

    The recent $15 billion Dasukigate scandal trailing the Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential era, the current allegations of fraudulent insertionsin the 2016 budget and the allegation of N17 billion fraud against the tainted whistle-blower of the so-called padding in the 2016 budget, AbdulmuminJibrin, are all further concrete manifestationsthat our political leaders are akin to plagues embedded in massive corruption. With public officials helping themselves with billions of dollars and naira which should have been channelled to development,it is clear why our nation and its infrastructure are in complete mess.

    For a good number of Nigerians, PMB even with his best efforts can only make a dent in the fight against corruption. To these group, many of those serving in Buhari’s government are as corrupt as those in the previous era, and so for them the change mantra is a fluke. As Rodney argued, African must first become self-conscious of the debilitating challenges of their past, before they can make any genuine progress. Also, Nigerians must consciously realise the impact of corruption on its festering underdevelopment, before they can rouse themselves to confront the monster.

    Arguing on the dependency of Africa on the developed countries, Rodney wrote: “African economies are integrated into the very structure of the developed capitalist economies… Indeed, structural dependence is one of the characteristics of underdevelopment”. In the same manner, corruption and its consequent underdevelopment has created a structural dependency of the critical middle class on the political elites. Now, for their survival, the middle hasopted to accommodate and evenmassage the bloated egos of the corrupt public officials holding the key to the commonwealth.

    As things stand, corruption and underdevelopment has become a conundrum in Nigeria. This perhaps explains why instead of hope rising from the efforts of the present government to fight corruption, it appears that the people are getting more despondent, because the government’s best efforts are not yielding the desired results, as quickly as expected. And how can it, when those mostly affected by corruption have become so dependent on the lucre from corruption that some are evenready to lay down their lives to protect the very corrupt public officials, whose corruption further their underdevelopment.

    So, regardless of the introduction of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, to bring greater efficiency into our criminal justice system, frustration is still the name of the game. In reality, when a procedure that has worked well in developed countries is introduced into our underdeveloped system, the twin challenges of corruption and underdevelopment connive to render it otiose, just as it has connived to castrate the change agents in any society – the middle class.

    For now,while corruption wrecks our commonwealth, underdevelopment wrecks our self-worth and our capacity to hold the corrupt to account.That is the twin tragedy of our nation and the result is a cycle of underdevelopment. From its effort so far, the government of PMB believes that the answer lies in fighting corruption head-on, and regardless of any misgiving the regime is confronting the monster. While the expected result is slow in coming, at least there is widespread exposure of corruption, which is a huge achievement in itself.

    But quite a number of Nigerians believe that the answer to the incipient corruption and the consequent underdevelopmentlies in re-structuring the country or sub-dividing it, so that the new entities can make the needed effort to hold its own leaders accountable. Others argue stringently that our present structure is good enough, and what is lacking is patience. While the argument goes forth and back, corruption and underdevelopment continuous to surge, and by itself,may bring an end to our country.

     

  • Lawyers divided on creation of Special Courts on corruption

    Lawyers divided on creation of Special Courts on corruption

    Lawyers yesterday expressed divergent views on the Federal Government’s bid to establish special courts for corruption and related offences.

    The bill, sent to the National Assembly by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), is entitled: A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a Special Crimes Court as a superior court of record to allow for speedy trials of certain offences, including economic and financial crimes, terrorism, money laundering and corruption offences and for related matters.

    A Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Emeka Ngige, constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu and Director, Prisoners Rights Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, said the bill was welcome.

    But, another SAN, Ahmed Raji, and former Lagos Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Alex Muoka, said such a court would amount to duplication and waste of resources.

    Ngige believes the special court, when established, would help the existing courts in decongesting the never ending criminal cases pending before them.

    He said: “It is my belief that the Bill is borne of out of the frustrations being experienced by the anti-graft agencies in the prosecution of litany of criminal cases bordering on corruption and terrosrism.  I have not read the Bill, but I hope that the loopholes which bedevilled the previous efforts of the Federal Government in setting up Failed Banks Tribunals in the 90s should be addressed.”

    Ngige urged PACAC to go a step further to initiate constitutional amendment to include the Special Crimes Court as one of the courts of superior record which neither Federal or State High Courts would exercise supervisory jurisdiction over.

    He also advocated the establishment of Criminal Divisions of the Court of Appeal to take care of appeals emanating from the special crimes court.

    “Even at the Supreme Court level, I suggest that more appointments on merit should be made to bring the number of Justices at the  Apex Court to 21 as constitutionally provided  so as to enable the court deal with appeals flowing  from the Special Crimes Court  within nine months of the entry of the appeal from the court below. It is my hope that members of National Assembly should give the passage of the Bill an accelerated hearing and attention,” Ngige said.

    However, Raji court congestion requires a comprehensive and holistic treatment, adding that the government should pay greater attention to the causes and prevention of crimes rather than the effects.

    “It may be more effective and cost efficient if special divisions are created out of the present courts to take care of the contemporary problems to make room for adjustments as the situation may demand. The committee should engage the bench on this matter.  But I commend the committee for making efforts towards achieving a better society in our country. May God bless and reward them,” Raji said.

    Ofuokwu said the Bill was “a bold” move, adding that an indefatigable prosecuting team ?must be assembled, trained and put in readiness to use the court.

    “Secondly, judges that are averse to corruption, courageous, brutally honest and very sound legal minds such as the Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole’s must be identified and assembled to handle such cases. These courts must be apolitical not subjected to legislative or executive interference in any way,” he said.

    Adetola-Kazeem urged the Federal Government to ensure the maintenance of high ethical standards by officers of the courts when created, as well as speedy and effective adjudication of the ‘special crimes’.

    “The government must also ensure that the court maintains its independence and not used as a tool for witch-hunting perceived political enemies. The EFCC and ICPC were established by the Obasanjo government because of the perceived ineffectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force similar to the present scenario.

    “However, along the line, these agencies became ineffective and its officers were accused of monumental corruption, the crime they were expected to fight. How the government intends to forestall the fate that befell the EFCC and ICPC not befalling the special crimes court remains to be seen,” Adetola-Kazeem said.

    But, Muoka said rather than create new courts, existing ones should be strengthened.

    “I think we have a penchant for ad-hoc solutions to problems. We enjoy re-inventing the wheel. We approach every issue with the mindset of setting up a new body to provide a solution. In my humble opinion, it is an unnecessary duplication of efforts and resources.

    “A crime is a crime. Rather than setting up special courts to deal with certain types of crimes, the focus should be on strengthening the existing courts that deal with criminal offences. I do not consider that there is any type of “economic and financial crimes, terrorism, money laundering and corruption offences and for related matters” that the existing High Courts cannot deal with expeditiously if their capacity is strengthened. The offences are not new offences. They are offences currently existing on our statute books and presently being tried in the existing courts.

    “The resources that would be deployed in setting up special courts would be better utilised in improving the existing court system – instead of setting up separate (and duplicate or parallel) superior courts of record each with its own head of court and administrative machinery, structures and buildings, legislative framework etc.

    “Yes it would probably create more job opportunities for judicial officers, registrars and court staff – but is that what this is about? If the concern is with genuinely addressing a problem, then we need to think beyond this ad-hoc solution,” Muoka said.

     

  • Political awareness, corruption and succession

    I  start  today  with  an  ancient  and  time honoured  saying  that – the mills of  justice may  grind  slowly  but  they  grind exceedingly fine. I  adopt  this saying as the flagship  of our  discussion of  the title  of  the day. In  doing this I will  show  that in various  parts of  the  world as  we know it  today,  people  are  increasingly  aware and are intensely  critical  of  the type  of leadership  they  get or  have and   are  remonstrating  and  protesting where  an when they  are disappointed or  think  that they are being  shortchanged or   suspect  that the present  leadership  they  have is taking them for  a ride.

    It  is indeed  not  very  difficult  to see  what  I am  trying t decipher  because  it not  lost  in  plain sight  to  any  discerning observer  of  world  politics  in  the last  one week.  In   Brazil  in Latin America the Olympics  have  started  but  hundreds  of  protesters  took  to the streets when  the Olympic  torch  was received by the Mayor  of Rio de Janeiro  and the two  presidents who  brought  the Olympics to  Brazil  are  facing  corruption  and  impeachment  charges for budget  padding.  Similarly in  Nigeria the  former Chairman  of  the Appropriations Committee of the House  of  Representatives  has shot  back at the Speaker  who  relieved him of his  position  with much  venom  and charges  of  financial  recklessness on  budget  padding   and has written a petition  to  the anti  corruption body – the EFCC – to  prosecute  the Speaker  for budget  fixing,  padding  and other  odious budget  approval  malfeasance.  Also   in  the same  Latin  America  where  the last  two  presidents  are  on  tenterhooks  in  Brazil  over  corruption  charges a sitting   President  Ortega  of  the Sandinista  fame in   Nicaragua  got  the  Supreme  Court   judgement  to  contest  for  a third term and immediately  nominated  his wife as his  running  mate  for  Nicaragua’s next  presidential  election due very  soon. Surely  one  man’s  food  is  another  man’s  poison especially  in the  politics of  elections  and  succession in  the democracies  of  Latin  America  where  the Perons blazed  a trail  in  matrimonial  succession in  Argentina sometime  ago.

    Yet  it  is in North  America  not  Latin  America  that  the greatest  political  volcano  of our  time  is about  to  explode  and I  really  do  not  think  I am  exaggerating   or  being  unduly  alarmist.  I am  simply  bothered  as  a  serious  student  of  global politics  and  human  progress  and  I have  shown  my  apprehension  and  concern  in  my  last  recent  essays  on  American  politics  and  the 2016  presidential  elections  which  has come to  be dominated  by  the brand  of  politics that  the Republican  candidate  Donald  Trump  has  brought  on  board   with  his forceful  personality and  even  more  violent  language  on  the  campaigns  and the  November elections.  Which  he  obviously  sees  as a no  holds  barred,  winner  takes  all, scotched  earth political  undertaking.  Which  also   is unprecedented  in  US  politics  and  has  prompted  a sitting  US  president Barak  Obama, to  declare  that an  opposition  candidate  against  his  anointed presidential  candidate  is  not  fit  to be  president.  Which  also  on its own is extreme  language  to  use  on any  candidate  including  Donald  Trump  no  matter  how much  of  an  irritant he  has turned  out  to  be in  the pursuit  of his democratically acquired mandate   and legitimate  candidature.

    Similarly  in Turkey the  incumbent  president  who  survived  a military  coup   recently,  has  seized  the opportunity  to  put  his  political  house  in order  by  purging  all  public  institutions  accused  of  harboring  coup  plotters  and  sympathisers.  President  Tayyip  Erdogan  is  making sure  that  lightning  does  not strike twice  at  the same spot  and it is difficult  to  blame him  especially  if  one realizes that  life  has  no  duplicate  and  that  even  a cat  with  nine  lives such as  he  must   learn  fast  to  always watch  his  back  to survive  politically  in Turkey’s  volatile, secular vs Islamist  politics  and  elections.

    These  then  are  the issues  on  the table  today  and  I will  now stamp  on  each  my  views  and  comments in  the light of  the topic  of  the day starting  with  Brazil and  the order  of  narration so  far.  Really,  who  could  have thought  that Dilmar  Rousseff the  President  of  Brazil during  the 2014  World  Cup would  not  be in  office  and would  be facing impeachment  trial two  years  later during  the 2016  Olympics  brokered   by  her  predecessor  who  handpicked  her  to succeed  him  and see   through   the  two  prestigious  sporting events? Yet  the ominous  signs were  there  in  the way  Brazilians protested  during the 2014  World  Cup  at  the corruption in their  sporting  institutions while ordinary  Brazilians wallowed in abject  poverty.  Even  the gods  of  soccer  did  not smile at the  Brazilians in their favorite  sport  of  soccer  as they  were  humiliated by a disgraceful  7-1 defeat  on their  own  soil  as  hosts  by the merciless  Germany   team   which  went  on   to win the 2014  World  cup  in  Brazil,  to  President  Dilmar  Rousseff’s  utter  discomfort  and embarrassment. Events  in  Brazil  have shown  that  politicians  cannot  get  far away  from  public  anger  no  matter  how  many  fanciful  games  and sport  they  invent  and sponsor  to  divert  the anger and  poverty  of  the  people  away  from  their  sufferings  as the ancient  Roman  Emperors  did  with  the staged  fights and lions  in the arenas  of  ancient  Rome.

    In  Nigeria  the sordid  revelations  on  budget  padding  show  clearly  that  dishonesty is a way  of  life  in  our legislative  institutions.  A  simple  task  of   budgetary  cost  control  built  into  our  presidential  system  as a form  of  checks  and  balancing  and   separation  of  powers,  has  been  turned  upside  down  and made to serve the narrow  constituency  interests of  elected legislators. It  is both a betrayal  of  the constitution  and the electoral   process  in  the democracy  that  saw  the emergence   of such law  makers  intent  on  perverting the democratic  process  for  their  selfish  interests. Of  course  no  budget  can thrive under such  a warped  and corrupt  system  which  makes   a mockery  of  budget  planning and execution  while economic  growth  and  welfare become unrealizable  like  a mirage on  our  heated Northern  highways. Of  course  the EFCC  must  do  its duty  and prosecute  those  involved. Since  every  disappointment  can  be turned  into a blessing,  this whistle blowing  by  legislators   turning  on themselves may  yet  be the shortest   way  to put  our  legislative  chambers in  order and  hopefully  make budget  padding  a thing  of  the past.

    Not   much  can be made of  Ortega  appointing  his wife  as running  mate  as that  has  been  done twice  in Argentina – the  Perons   and  de  Kircheners – and  the ladies  performed  well  in  succeeding  their  husbands.  The  issue    however  is   the ethics  of  it. Which  is that  such   a consideration   of a wife  for  succeeding   the  husband   should  not arise in  a healthy  political  system  where  merit  is  the deciding  factor.  The  wife should  in my view  just  not be up  for  consideration  to  succeed  the husband  no  matter  her  talents as the couple is  supposed  to  be one entity and  not two  and  therefore  not  extendable  in  terms of  political  succession in  any way.

    In  taking  on  the US here  then,  I  think  the same bias  would  dog  the  candidature  of  Hillary  Clinton  as  the presidential   candidate of  the    Democratic   Party.  Although  Donald  Trump  has taken  a lot  of heat on his  political  campaign  style  Hillary  Clinton  too is  not having  things easy. An  anti  –  Hillary   documentary  by  Dinesh  D’ Souza   titled -Hillary’s  America; The secret story  of  the Democratic  Party -has  been  said  to  be the highest  earning  documentary in the US  for  now. Although  I  have  not watched  the film  the producer  said  it   showed  Hillary’s    real    motivations   and  is  based  on  facts which will  alter  the way  blacks and Hispanics  perceive  their  relations with  the Democratic  Party.  Given  its  history  of endorsing slavery and discrimination in this documented  history  of  the Democratic  Party, of  which Hillary is the current  presidential  candidate. How  the issues in the documentary which  Donald  Trump  has reportedly  endorsed,  unravel,  and  how  much  publicity it  gets  will  certainly  affect  the progress  of  either  Trump  or  Hillary  in their  quest  to become the next  US president.  Either  way  it seems as if  a  bomb is  ticking to go  off  in  this 2016 US  Presidential elections   and  I do  not  think  that is a healthy  feeling   for  either  US  politics or  even  global  democracy  and  peace  for that  matter.   Once  again  long  live  the  Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • The Ajasin saga: corruption fighting back?

    SIR: I have been following the drama concerning the appointment of Mr. TokunboAjasin as a member of the NDDC by President Muhammadu Buhari. In the course of this drama, there was never a time when anyone disputed the qualification, capability, integrity or the character of the President’s nominee; some have even gone ahead to praise his leadership and professional qualities. So what is all the brouhaha all about?

    Some Ilaje people claim that Mr. Ajasin’s appointment was illegal because it contradicts the Act that set up the NDDC. The Ilaje community, particularly the ones that live in Ugbo believe that they and only they could be appointed to the NDDC board. They postulate that the NDDC Act 2000 that sets up the Commission makes it mandatory that the nominees to represent each of the nine states be indigenes of the oil producing communities quoting Section 2(1) (b) of the NDDC Act, 2000 to buttress their claim:

    “one person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the following member states, that is, Abia State, Akwa-Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Delta State, Edo State, Imo State, Ondo State, and Rivers State.”

    My understanding of the clause “oil producing area” that seems to be the bone of contention is that it applies to the totality of the Niger Delta area comprising the states named in the act. If the framers of the act intended places other than states it could have said so. It could easily have said Ilaje, Eket, Oron, Ughelli, Oloibiri etc. But it did not. So why input into the act what it does not say. Just like the 13% derivation applies to the states rather than the communities, if communities or local governments are the reference point, the act could have said so in the manner in which 774 local governments are recognized in the constitution.

    To argue otherwise through the use of subterfuge is fraudulent. If previous governments acted illegally and in corrupt manner as they were wont to do, a new government that prides itself in fighting corruption and rectifying several past injustices should not follow the same track. This is a government of CHANGE and just as it has been doing in various sectors of the Nigerian polity, it must institute a change by doing what is right in this situation. But the same people who want to continue business as usual are the ones clamouring for more of the same. When you fight corruption, certainly corruption is bound to fight back. The scenario currently being enacted is the vicious face of corruption fighting back.

    A change government cannot afford to buckle under the weight of these corrupt people, otherwise Nigeria is finished. Government should stay focused and ignore the irritating distractions. The courts are there to adjudicate where anyone strongly feels an injustice has occurred. The government cannot succumb to threats, intimidation and bullying to pervert the course of justice, otherwise the country is heading for chaos and anarchy.

     

    • Kehinde Ajayi.

    Akure, Ondo State.

  • Corrosive effect of corruption on Nigeria’s security 

    Some three years or so ago, the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a conference on Nigeria’s foreign policy at the foyer of the ministry’s beautiful Abubakar Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja. I remember Professor Ibrahim Gambari, then Under-Secretary-General for one of the divisions in the UN Secretary-General’s office saying our soldiers participating in UN peace-keeping operations in Darfur were poorly kitted. He said their equipment was below what the UN expected and what Nigeria in the past conformed with. This was an important matter because the UN reimbursed Nigeria for all its expenses during peace-keeping operations. The then Minister of Defence who was previously chairman of the PDP, the then ruling party gave a lame excuse that party bigwigs who got the contracts might not have performed well. He then casually dismissed the observation as if it did not really matter. I sat down there shocked about the levity with which state affairs was being handled in Nigeria. This was at a time when as a country we were going about laying claim to a seat on the UN Security Council  to represent Africa, and secondly, our candidacy was also based on the fact that we had participated on several UN peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations . There we were, losing one of the planks of our credentials for permanent membership of the UN Security Council because of the greed and unconcern by one of the key persons in government.

    This reminds me of what a Zimbabwean minister, an academic colleague, asked me in 1990 about why during military regimes, Nigeria always got its act together but that during civilian regimes, there was a decline in the quality and dedication to service of the political leaders. Of course as a democrat I had no answer and it would have been out of place for me to endorse or support his observation. Even if he was correct, the behaviour of our men in uniform going by recent revelations leaves much to be desired.

    How can one explain the top echelon of our army and air force embezzling billions of Naira and millions of dollars meant to purchase arms and ammunition for soldiers in war time? These people were not only undermining the security of the country, they were also sending officers and men to die during unequal engagement with enemy troops of the Boko haram. Some of them had the temerity of trying unwilling soldiers in court-martial for refusing to go to the front with guns that would not fire!  National security should be sacrosanct. All officers and men should know this and if they have forgotten then there is a need to teach it not only to our security forces but to all citizens. In other climes, these military looters would have been tried in military courts rather than in civilian courts followed by a horde of so-called Senior Advocates eager to share in the loot and laughing all the way to the banks at the country’s expense.

    What can the country do? What can poor Buhari do? How many of our fights can he be expected to fight especially in a country that has seen so much misrule that it is almost inoculated to bad news and official thievery and dereliction of duty?

    Recently, the new Inspector-General of Police accused his predecessor of going away with 24 cars and his deputy inspectors-general and assistant inspector-generals went away with eight cars each. The question to ask is why is so much spent on cars and little or nothing spent on investigating tools and gadgets. Is this not the police that always claim it has no vehicles when people being robbed call on them for assistance? Are there no auditors any more in the various ministries and departments of government?

    A friend of mine told me recently that we all know that our country has gone to the dogs. He said our emphasis is what to do to reverse the situation. One hopes we have not gone beyond redemption. My suggestion is that there is a need for moral rearmament on a national scale. Our places and leaders of various religions should be called by the president and enlisted in to this campaign to rebuild Nigeria. We should encourage people who have gone astray whether caught or not to come forward and give testimonies of where they went wrong and vomit what they have like gluttons consumed even when they did not need to eat. They should demonstrate penance and be ready for restitution. We need to teach Nigerians to demand their rights from leaders who are not performing. Stomach infrastructure alone will not do. Man shall not live by bread and butter alone! There is also a need to challenge our people to work hard and that hard and honest work will be rewarded. Our people must be told not to celebrate people whose sudden source of wealth is not known. A review of all national honours since 1960 should be undertaken so that those who had earned them illegitimately should be dishonoured. In fact the award of national honours should be suspended until this suggested review has been carried out to remove those who are unworthy from the pantheon of national heroes.

    There is also a need to embark on serious educational campaign to all adult citizens and children in schools through teaching of good citizenship so that everybody would know that they are stakeholders in a future Nigeria where honesty would pay. Whatever has been surrendered by looters and whatever assets had been seized and monetized should be put into a special account from where special projects that will empower the people would be funded. The N300 billion that politicians had claimed since 2007 for so-called constituency projects must be recovered to be used for community projects as determined by the people. From now on, budgeting must be done in such a way that the people must have input into the process so that people’s concern can be factored into governance.

    Of course there is no country that is free of corruption. The difference is that punishment is usually sure and swift. This should be the way forward in Nigeria. The law is no respecter of persons. May I say I particularly admire the state of Israel which in recent time has jailed respectively a President for rape and a Prime Minister for corruption and is currently investigating a  sitting Prime Minister. It is only when we know impunity will be punished that people will sit up. People always respond to the stimulus of pain and pleasure; when people know that what they have illegitimately acquired could be taken from them or their children when they pass on, then the primitive accumulation of wealth now prevailing in Nigeria would become history. We need to know that all earthly wealth will end here on this terrestrial plane and that we brought nothing to this world and when we go we will take nothing with us. All that we think is important and pride ourselves in acquiring is vanity and our efforts at the end of the day is futile. This is the message our mosques and churches should be preaching. What will it benefit a man if he has the whole world and loses his soul? What is important is not how much one has but what good name and reputation one has built. Our heroes as a people should not be the rich and the powerful but the solitary workman providing for the needs of his family from the sweat of his labour and being contented with whatever he has achieved by dint of his exertion and hard work. This is what all our religions teach us and if we are true to our faith this is what we should try and do.

  • Kumuyi: How Nigeria can wriggle out of current recession

    Kumuyi: How Nigeria can wriggle out of current recession

    The General Overseer, Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor Williams Folorunsho Kumuyi, has given insight to how Nigerians could wriggle out of the current economic downturn in the country.

    kumuyi said apart from seeking God’s intervention through prayers for the nation, Nigerians should shun corruption, make a habit of doing the right thing always and also delve into agriculture to ensure food availability and security.

    He said Nigerians need God’s help to “turn around the economic, social, individual, domestic needs and other hydra – headed problems of the nation,” adding that where there is no food on the table and enough apparel for the body, there would be grumbling everywhere.

    The General Overseer spoke in Abeokuta, through the DCLM State Overseer, Pastor Dele Rosilu, while fielding questions from reporters at a press briefing to herald his planned visit to MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, next Friday, for a “turn around” crusade at the state capital.

    Over 50,000 worshippers across the state are expected to attend the programme.

    Rosilu who addressed the press on Kumuyi’s behalf, noted that Nigerians are not doing enough in agriculture, saying there are no better time to pour more energy into farming either on “commercial or part time basis” than this period of economic recession.

    He also made case for more money to be expended on security of lives and properties of Nigerians by the governments if that is what it would take to keep enough manpower on ground amid rising cases of militancy and kidnappings in parts of the country.

    He however, expressed the hope that at this period of “failures,” God would minister success to the country, stressing that the church in Nigeria should partner with the governments, its institutions and agencies to better the lot of the people.”

     

  • Fighting corruption of fixing the economy?

    SIR: President Muhammadu Buhari during his campaigns focused on three key sectors: revamping the economy, fighting corruption to stand still and, tackling the security menace.

    Thirteen months in office, the issues are begging to be tackled headlong. Although, President Buhari is not the cause of our woes as most of the problems predated his administration, but some of the decisions he has made so far has hardly helped matters.

    The National Bureau of Statistics has just released inflation rate for the month of June to be 16.5% – the highest in 11 years.  The CBN governor recently opened up that the economy is in bad shape with indications that the federal government may not be able to pay federal workers in few months’ time should the situation persist. The perilous times, was according to him, due to the bombing that is currently going on in the Niger Delta. As if the situation is not grim enough, the finance minister finally and officially admitted that the Nigerian economy is in recession. According to her “there are several other nations that are experiencing the turbulent time worse than Nigeria” – justification I guess?

    What does this government want?  Fighting corruption to the end before attending to the fragile economy? Eradicating corruption is a process and not instantaneous as President Buhari wants it. Nigerians presently are in pains and agonies. Crime rate is on the rise. There appears to be no sign of relief to the economic kerfuffle.

    We can’t continue this way.  The President should give the economy a serious priority as he is giving corruption. Other countries that found themselves in similar quagmire got it solved through thinking within and openness. By now I expect a revolution in agriculture and other sectors as a means of diversification, but it seems we are in limbo, because, nothing concrete has been done aside statement of intent. How do we get it right from this cycle if we are not sincere in our approach?

     

    • Alifia Sunday,

    Ilorin, Kwara State.

  • Cleric blames judges, others for condoning corruption

    The Coordinator of Christ Apostolic Church, Mountain of Mercy at Oke Erio in Ekiti State, Prophet Sam Olu-Alo, has blamed the pervasive corruption in the country on judges and religious leaders.

    The cleric accused them of failing to sanitise the system by using their positions.

    Olu-Alo wondered why judges jailed petty thieves for stealing mobile phones or goats but granted bail to those who stole millions and billions of naira and dollars from the commonwealth.

    He urged judicial officials to be firm and fair in handling corruption matters so that it could be stamped out of the country.

    Olu-Alo addressed reporters after the July edition of his prophetic programme, tagged: “Seven Hours, Seven Prophets.”

    The cleric also took a swipe at various religious leaders for not preaching the truth nor chastising their followers for corrupt practices.

    He said: “The truth is that these leaders who loot the economy worship in one church or mosque. If the religious leaders – pastors, prophets, evangelists, imams, alfas and alhajis – had been telling them that suffering, pain and God’s anger are implications of dipping their hands into the commonwealth, the situation would have been different.

    “If the desired change begins from the churches and mosques, if the leaders at churches and mosques reject the mouth-watering offerings and gifts that such leaders bring and tell the leaders the implications of their actions, we will see that corruption will become history in Nigeria.”

    Olu-Alo, who hailed the Federal Government for its fight against corruption, advised the government and the judges to ensure that “any looter, no matter which political party or class he belongs to, must face the music”.

  • Ribadu: I didn’t re-loot recovered assets

    Ribadu: I didn’t re-loot recovered assets

    ….Says: I’m paying dearly for fighting corruption

    Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Mallam Nuhu Rubadu Wednesday said he was still “paying dearly” for his efforts to rid the country of corruption.

    According to him, corruption would not have become so endemic if past administrations had the will to fight it.

    Ribadu, who denied tampering with recovered assets while at EFCC, said highly placed government officials frustrated the commission’s work, culminating in his removal from office and ‎halting the progress being made in the anti-graft war.

    “Somebody was brought in to destroy the agency. It was a tragedy,” Ribadu said.

    He spoke in Abuja at a National Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Recovery and Management of Recovered Assets, organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

    PACAC chairman, Prof Itsay Sagay (SAN), said if Ribadu had not been removed, maybe corruption would not have become so endemic.

    He said developing strategies for recovery of stolen assets would act as a deterrent to looters.

    “Seizure of assets is more painful to them than imprisonment,” Sagay said.

    Ribadu, who gave the keynote speech with the theme: Assets Recovery in Nigeria: Experiences from the past, said although he was still paying the price for stepping on some toes, he had no regrets.

    He denied allegations that he was part of those who allegedly re-looted recovered assets, including N1trillion, and expressed surprise that it was a subject of Senate investigation.

    He said: “Considering the care we took in handling whatever was in our custody, I find it baffling and disheartening when I hear people make insinuations about how we handled recovered assets.

    “It is a most unfair remark but certainly not totally surprising as the fight against corruption is essentially a thankless job, especially in our climes.

    “That was why I was telling Prof Sagay: ‘Don’t bother sir, people will abuse you; don’t say anything. This is the job’.

    “We are hurting people; we are taking things from those who took things and we denied them chance to make use of them and enjoy and with their family.

    “I’m still paying dearly. In my own madness, I decided to go into politics and I am still paying for it. But I am not bothered. I’ll continue fighting till my last breath. If I’m given the opportunity I’ll do it again.”

    Ribadu believes the Buhari administration has the political will to tackle corruption and has demonstrated it.

    He described EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu as “a good, courageous and honest guy”.

    Ribadu said: “We have the most vital tool needed in this war, namely political will. I see in the present leadership, specifically the president, the will to allow the war to be fought without interference and the eagerness to support it in whatever way possible. These two points are important prerequisite in winning the anti-corruption war.

    “We are also lucky to have a set of people, including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) who are very passionate and committed to be in charge of the process,” he said.

    According to him, due to the limitations of the existing laws on asset forfeiture, the current attempt at enacting a law to cover the spectrum of issues around forfeiture is a welcomed development.

    He said despite lack of lack of adequate legal guidance, a lot of stolen assets laundered in several countries had been returned.

    According to him, the most significant case of assets recovery prior to the establishment of the EFCC are those stolen by the late head of state General Sani Abacha loot. He said N83billion was recovered from Abacha’s loot locally alone.

    “As a legal officer and prosecutor then with the Nigeria Police, I was attached to the team that worked on the Abacha case. With paucity of assets recovery laws, we relied on informal methods including Administrative Confiscation, a mechanism of confiscating assets through non-judicial means. Within the first few months, we recovered billions domestically from such forfeitures,” he said.

    Ribadu said a national policy on assets recovery and their use must be developed, backed by a strong legal framework.

    “I would suggest that high level, serious consultations be held between all the three arms of government to discuss steps and measures of evolving a very comprehensive national strategy on the fight against corruption that would enumerate the roles expected of all; the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

    “We should have a strategy that is a product of a consensus. Out of this strategy we can agree, if need be, to have new laws or institutions with clear mandates and responsibilities,” Ribadu said.

    PACAC Executive Secretary, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, said between $20billion to $40billion is stolen annually from developing countries.

    According to him, seizure is important to the asset recovery process as it ensures the blockage or preservation of assets.

    He said such seizures require judicial backing, usually through ex-parte orders (in which notice is not given) so as to prevent the looter from transferring or hiding the assets.

    Director, Rule of Law Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, Katalaina Sapolu, said the international community and the Commonwealth would support the Buhari administration’s bid to recover stolen funds.

    She said more importantly is what to do with the assets when recovered.

    “The management of recovered proceeds is really an issue. Asset recovery has been implemented. But what do you do with the stolen assets once you receive them?

    “We do not think that there has been, in many jurisdictions, a really settled view on the approach, because it requires development of policy and establishment of relevant institutional frameworks,” Sapolu said.

    According to her, the outcome of the three-day workshop would help in the formulation of such policies.

  • Buhari faults blackmail of senior government officials

    Buhari faults blackmail of senior government officials

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to discerning Nigerians to ignore orchestrated attempts to sully the integrity of ministers and other senior government officials, who are being tarred with the brush of corruption without any concrete evidence.

    He was reacting to reports, particularly by online media, claiming that the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, is being investigated over crude oil swap deals and gas liftings during his tenure as GMD of NNPC.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, appealed for decent and civilized comments, particularly when it has to do with the integrity of those who are serving the country.

    “Terrible and unfounded comments about other people’s integrity are not good. We are not going to spare anybody who soils his hands, but people should please wait till such individuals are indicted,” the President said.

    He reiterated the administration’s commitment to probity, accountability and integrity, promising that transparency remained a watchword, which would never be trifled with.