The Nation Newspaper

Tag: corruption

  • Nigeria can’t progress with corruption, says Osinbajo at cleric’s 80th birthday

    A former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday said Nigeria cannot progress unless individuals shun corruption and other anti-social vices.

    The eminent lawyer noted that integrity and righteousness are fundamental to individual’s life, especially Christians who are commanded by Christ to lay a good example for the people to follow.

    Osinbajo spoke in Lagos as the guest speaker at a public lecture, entitled: Bridging the Gap Between Our Spiritual Life and Our Secular Behaviour: A Tool for Good Governance, organised for the 80th birthday celebration of the National President, The Apostolic Church Nigeria, LAWNA Territory, Dr. Gabriel Olutola.

    Osinbajo said the rate of corruption in Nigeria has taken another dimension, to the extent that Christians were actively involved.

    He decried the level of corruption, examination malpractice and maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, saying the nation’s higher institutions’ certificates were not valued in the international market because of corruption.

    According to him, the government is not helping the situation because since the assassination of notable Nigerians, including the late Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige; Lagos politician Mr Funsho Williams, as well as several others, nobody has been brought to book or prosecuted.

    Osinbajo said: “If we change our ways from corruption, Nigeria will move forward. Individuals, especially the Christians, are to be held responsible for the woes of the nation, because God has said they are the salt of the world and they are to lay a good example for others. We have no basis to question the leadership. We need to teach the people what Christ commanded us.

    “Despite our huge resources, Nigeria remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Nigeria is also rated among the most corrupt nations in the world. We know that corruption has even taken another dimension in this country. It is only in this country that you discover that the Executive has to bribe the Legislature to get a project approved.

    “When (former United States Secretary of State) Mrs Hilary Clinton came to Nigeria, she testified to this when she said the level of corruption was unbelievable. That’s the truth. Nobody has been held accountable for this; nobody has been punished. Generally, we have seen the corruption as the normal way of life. When you look at the number of the unresolved assassination cases in this country, starting from Bola Ige in 2001, down to Funsho Williams in Lagos in 2006, and many more unresolved murdere cases, there is no hope that they will be resolved.”

  • Unbridled corruption will ruin Nigeria, Bafarawa warns

    FORMER Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has warned that unbridled corruption ravaging the nation might lead to its doom.

    He stated opposition political parties came together to form a formidable party is to re-unite and promote the growth of democracy in the county.

    He said the move was necessary because there can be no democracy without viable opposition.

    Bafarawa spoke yesterday while commiserating with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, over the recent attack against him.

    He noted the relationship between him and the traditional ruler remains that of a father and son.

    As a member of the constitution drafting committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bafarawa expressed optimism that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will register the party.

    He said: ”I am optimistic that INEC will register APC. We are law- abiding; we know the rules and what it will take to be eligible for registration and will not submit our application through the backdoor.

    “We will ensure to forward our application to INEC through the right channel, which is why we are painstakingly going through the right door and trying to comply with due process, before the submission of our application, which I believe we will scale through at the close of the day.”

     

  • ‘Let’s fight corruption’

    The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Nnewi South, Anambra State, Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, has called for concerted effort to fight corruption in the land.

    The cleric, who condemned the killings in parts of the country by a religious sect, urged Nigerians to love their country and make it the centre of God’s love.

    He likened people’s bad attitudes to nailing Christ to the cross the second time.

    Bishop Ikeakor admonished Nigerians to join forces in the fight against corruption in public offices, adding that for the fight to succeed, individuals must first fight injustice and other forms of illegality.

    The cleric advised the Federal Government in particular and other tiers of government to be pro-people in the implementation of their programmes.

    According to him, government should put the people first because of widespread hunger in the land.

    Bishop Ikeakor noted that any government that excludes God in its plans invites criminality.

    The bishop stressed that educated people without God wreak havoc on the society.

    “Our problem is corruption in high places and we all must join forces to fight it. It is not about oral fight but real fight. Everybody should be serious to fight corruption, starting from individuals. I urge people to start doing what is right without waiting for others,” he said.

     

  • ‘Let’s wage intellectual war against corruption’

    Vice-Chancellor, Littoral University (Institut D’Enseignement Superiur De Littoral) Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, Prof Olabode Reuben Ayeni, has roused his colleagues on the part of intellectual wayfaring as a veritable instrument of battling corruption.

    “It is high time corruption in Nigeria is confronted intellectually through groundbreaking research rather than mere strength or street protests which I think has done little to convince the leadership to do the rightful. I, therefore, urge all intellectuals on more concerted efforts in this direction.

    Ayeni noted that many Nigerians particularly in the intellectual circle are being eulogised and offered red carpet reception around the world. In view of this, he said those at the home front should step up the campaign to reduce corruption to its barest minimum.

    Prof Ayeni spoke at the induction/lecture of the Institute of Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria (IARN) held at the University of Lagos Conference Hall last Thursday.

    “We intellectuals have to put our heads together because a tree cannot make a forest. Intellectually, we must come up with groundbreaking research on how to move the country forward. The Research must touch on all aspects of our lives-education, religion, tribe, economy, social and psychological, and what have you? Sadly, the virus called corruption has spread to our churches, mosques and other institutions. It is unfortunate that as Nigerians, anywhere you go they see you as a corrupt person. We must make sure that corruption is battled headlong.”

    Ayeni, who was also among 13 personalities that were conferred fellows of the institute, expressed his desire for a symbiotic relationship between Littoral University and the institute particularly in the areas of administration and research.

    He said the unblemished records of many eminent Nigerians worldwide are still opening doors of success, wondering why there are seemingly insurmountable challenges at the home front.

    “I am a Nigerian but living in the Republic of Benin. The authority of that country wouldn’t have given me a licence to set up a university if I do not demonstrate some level of integrity in a French country. I didn’t have to go through any stress or pay a bribe. But they just look at integrity, and sincerity and the personality involved. That is to say Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion, are still doing great in the country and we can replicate same at home.

    Other fellows include Chairman Brilla FM, Dr Larry Izamuje; Registrar Redeemers’ University Ogun State Mrs Bolatito Oloketuyi; and a senior staff of the National Assembly, Mrs Abiola Helen.

    Earlier the Director-General of the institute Prof Jacob Etinagbedia congratulated the new fellows. He said as ambassadors of the institute, they must carry themselves with gait.

    He urged them to remain more committed to research and while also contributing to the nation’s development,-two key factors Etinagbedia said earned them the award.

    “We all need to find a lasting solution to the myriads of challenges confronting us as a nation. This is why we at the institute are working round the clock in making sure that ‘it cannot be business as usual’. We will continue to strive to contribute our quota to the development of our great nation.”

    A lecture with the title: Corruption: Major encumbrance to the attainment of Nigeria Vision 2020, was also delivered by the Director, Corporate Governance Business school Dr Nelson Ojo-Samuel.

     

     

  • UNIBEN Pro-Chancellor warns against corruption

    UNIBEN Pro-Chancellor warns against corruption

    The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Benin, Senator Effiong Bob has warned members of the council and the university authority to shun corruption

    Those who have come to the university ostensibly for material profit, will not succeed, Bob said.

    In his inaugural speech with the authority of Uniben which was made availably to reporters in Abuja, Bob vowed to reposition the institution and ensure that academic excellence is sustained.

    To make his vision a reality, he said everyone must put aside individual differences and embrace the common goal which is that of changing what should be changed and initiating fresh moves that will ensure that this university stands out among its contemporaries.

    His words: “Let me caution that any of us who has come here based on what material profit this appointment and or this university will offer him or her, is certainly in the wrong place. I want us to reflect on the Bangkok Declaration of World University President’s Summit of 2006; which demands that: ‘Universities must strive to be beyond politics and business interests, and serve their societies and communities by providing a voice and space in which to cultivate rational, mutual and moderate dialogues that will shape intellectual, cultural and economic development on a shared basis within and across boundaries and nations.”

    “That is our mission. We are here to render service to this academic community and this country. In rendering this service, we may sometimes be misunderstood or criticised, we may even be condemned and accused by those with very little knowledge of what our statutory functions are. That should not bother us. As long as we work as a team; with a common goal, and a clear conscience, at the end, we will be justified. We must above all be determined to take the academic rating of this university higher than where it is now. Let it be that at the end of our stay as Council, the university, the community and the government that appointed us will greatly miss us.

    He said his appointment marked the beginning of a long fruitful friendship that will outlive this assignment. He, therefore, called on his fellow council members to team up with his vision and exhibit openness so that they can ‘take the glory when we succeed and take the blame if we fail.’

     

  • Jonathan must tackle corruption, insecurity, says Ribadu

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has said unless things are done properly, Nigerians may lose the country to another civil war.

    Ribadu, who spoke on a Liberty Radio programme, Guest of the Week, monitored in Kaduna, said with the way things are going, care must be taken not to lose the country.

    He accused his successor, Mrs Farida Waziri and former Delta State Governor James Ibori of destroying the Commission and truncating all efforts to fight corruption in the country.

    He described the state pardon granted to former Bayelsa State Governor Deprieye Alamieyeseigha and former Managing Director of Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama as a tragic development and unfair to the fight against corruption.

    He said: “The way things are going, if something is not done soon, Nigerians will lose Nigeria to a civil war. The management of the country today is in a worst form which is gradually pushing us towards failure.

    “Nigeria is one of the unsafe places to live in the world today, poverty is at its highest level, a terrible division that is crippling our society, intolerance and lack of trust and respect for one another which government cannot run away from and if we are not careful, we will lose Nigeria.

    “This government has failed to address the challenges and problems we are confronted with, it failed to address insecurity; it has failed to protect Nigerians, especially the vulnerable.

    “We can save it by coming together and forgetting about sentiments, about differences and work towards unity and saving the resources of this country because it is only way that we can achieve peace.

    “Jonathan was wrong to have said he will not grant amnesty to Boko Haram members.

    He should not fail to protect people and when people are saying we are tried, we are down; even if it means to dialogue and have a solution, he should opt for such.

    “You cannot say they are faceless because faceless people do not do things like this, faceless people cannot be responsible and daily you see them on Facebook, faceless people cannot be in your custody, ghosts cannot be people who are in the communities, people who at a point wanted to dialogue.

    “People like Farida Waziri, James Ibori and a couple of others who are still alive and they took over the EFCC and brought it to its knees.

    “They literally destroyed the cases that were already in existence with the intention of wiping out the war against corruption.

    “The intention was to reverse it and take us back to where we started and they did a lot of damage to the Commission and the war against corruption.

    “But as God will have it, the EFCC survived because today, it is still doing the work probably not like it did before, but somehow it has been given the chance to bounce back again.

    “The pardon granted to Alamiesegha and Shettima is a tragic development, a very unfair action against Nigerians because corruption is our biggest problem and any step taken against the direction of reversing it is a negative development.”

  • Rawlings: how Africa can conquer corruption

    Rawlings: how Africa can conquer corruption

    E was the cynosure of all eyes. Staff and students defied the scorching sun to welcome former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings to the campus.

    Rawlings, who is now an African Union (AU) envoy to Somalia, was there as the guest speaker at the second edition of Zik Lecture Series held at the Faculty of Social Sciences. He was received by a crowd of students, who waited at the entrance of the main auditorium, the venue of the programme.

    By 8am, guests had started filing into the expansive auditorium. Their pensive looks showed their readiness to tackle the theme of the lecture: Eradicating corruption in Africa.

    The host and the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Austin Nnonyelu, described the lecture as timely given the spread of corruption in public and private life. According to him, the lecture, which was instituted by Senator Ben Obi, is to promote the philosophy of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, one of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

    The lecture is held quarterly to examine Africa’s development and democratic challenges and to tackle the continent’s problems. Nnonyelu said the theme of the lecture was “prudently selected” as corruption was one of the hurdles against Africa’s development.

    Rawlings defined corruption as a deviation from the moral or spiritual norm, stressing that the vice stemmed from deliberate refusal to operate based on set rules, regulations and laws. With a wicked intention, he added, corrupt officials circumvent the punitive actions that come with such deliberate deviation from the norm.

    He said it was the willingness to tolerate the intolerable that motivated persons or institutions with influence to perpetrate corruption. He pointed out that corruption by those in government directly affected the rule of law and debased the moral right of political leadership to serve as a respected regulator of the affairs of the state.

    He urged Africans not to overlook the scourge of corruption, saying the continent would witness real development if its leaders expressed genuine desire to combat the vice.

    Speaking on Terrorism and democracy, Prof Okwudiba Nnoli, a political scientist, noted that disloyalty to democratic principles gave vent to the violent agitation by groups of extremists across the country.

    Prof Humphery Assisi Assobie, a political scientist, also delivered a lecture. Other guests also spoke, urging African governments to fight corruption. Dignitaries at event included the governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, Senator Obi, Senator Chris Ngige and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, among others.

    In his address, Prof Egboka said the theme of the lecture was relevant and addressed the political life of the African countries. He said leaders’ attention should be on the attainment of the millennium development goals and how to free the continent from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and disease.

    Gov. Obi said: “Corruption in Africa is endemic and should be fought vehemently by every patriotic African.”

  • Group targets grassroots in fight against corruption

    Group targets grassroots in fight against corruption

    By its nature, the third tier of government is intended to provide the people with basic essential services, which is why it is referred to as the government closest to the people.

    Today, local governments in the country seem not to appreciate their responsibilities beyond paying staff salaries and serving as appendages of the state governments, a development that serves to further deprive the people the benefits of democratic governance.

    Many have attributed the inability of the local government to function for the benefit of the people to corruption. To them, the case is made worst because cases of official corruption at the third tier level of governance are hardly reported and also do not attract enough attention as is the case with the other two levels.

    Bothered by this state of affairs, a group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has commenced move aimed at directing public attention to corruption at the local government level. Within the last two months, it has launched two initiatives aimed at achieving this goal.

    The latest of such initiatives is a text message service, which it said is meant to encourage citizens and local residents, who witness corruption at local government level to anonymously alert it (SERAP) who, in turn, will report any such allegations to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The group said the initiative, limited to Lagos, is part of its local government anti-corruption project in the state, being executed the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). Under the project, citizens or whistleblowers – mostly residents in local government areas of Lagos – who witnessed or has information about any corruption case, is expected to send text or SMS 08160537202 or other numbers contained in SERAP’s website – www-serap-nigeria.org.

    SERAP said the project was informed by the realisatgion that although local-level corruption is assessed to be much more widespread than corruption at the federal and state levels, most of the known cases of corruption are at the federal and state levels.

    The group said it also observed that allegations of corruption among local government officials frequently go unreported, with no actions taken to redress the problem.

    It said its investigations show that corruption at the local government level goes beyond outright theft of local resources, and often includes: bribing policemen, doctors, tax officers, council administrators for construction of permits or local market stall.”

    SERAP said it believes citizens and local residents will be more likely to report incidents of corruption in their communities if they are able to text details and know that their identity will be safeguarded and confidential, rather than openly speaking about this.

    SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said the project is driven by the belief that many low-level cases of corruption that should be sent to the ICPC go unreported, with citizens and local residents being too scared to blow the whistle.

    He said to prevent abuse, his group will closely monitor messages on allegations of corruption and carry out appropriate checks to ensure that the allegations made are in good faith, in the belief that the information is true, and that the disclosure is in the public interest.

    Mumuni explained that once those conditions are satisfied, his group will send petition on any such allegations to the ICPC for necessary action and follow-up,”

    “The initiative is designed to encourage greater community involvement and participation in anti-corruption activities, which hopefully will contribute to improved public service delivery such as health, education and other utilities to local residents.

    “It is also to address the continuing exclusion of the poor and other marginalized communities or their lack of participation in their own governance. Addressing corruption at the local government level is critical to comprehensively tackling the endemic and ensuring effective management of Nigeria’s natural resources,” Mumuni said.

    Before now, SERAP, working with OSIWA, had launched a book – Citizens’ Guide to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) – meant to encourage Nigerians to report to the ICPC any reports of corruption whether or not it directly affect them.

    The book, the group said, was in line with the provision of Section 24 (e) of the Constitution. The section imposes a duty on every citizen to “render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order”

    To this end, every citizen is under a duty to report to the ICPC any form of action, activity, transaction, event, or phenomenon, that portends corruption under whatever guise.

    Mumuni said the book, written by written by Professor Oyelowo Oyewo former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, is a simplified document which aims to increase citizens’ awareness about the ICPC.

    The book, he added, contains practical information, including the very important points such as examples of typical incidences of corruption by local government officials, and how a citizen can lodge a complaint before the ICPC.

    He said the book seeks to complement the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which confers on the citizens, the right to access public records under section one.

    “The book also seeks to encourages citizens to take on the role of “whistle-blowers” that can trigger investigations into corrupt practices that will lead to prosecution and conviction of corrupt public officials, in particular at the local government level. The ICPC Act in section 6(f) imposes a duty on the Commission to ‘to enlist and foster public support in combating corruption.’

    “Hence a citizen can make a report/petition about corrupt practices at any of the Offices of the ICPC, to enable any of the officers of the commission to investigate such report/petition as provided by the ICPC Act’.

    ”While the report (book) can be used by the citizens to lodge complaints before the ICPC on allegations of corruption generally, the report primarily focuses on local government level corruption in order to address the high level official corruption at this level, and as well as the impunity of perpetrators,” Mumuni said.

     

  • UNIBEN, UI to begin courses in corruption studies

    University of Ibadan and the University of Benin have indicated interest in running modules and courses on Corruption Studies, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The chairman of the commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, who disclosed this in Calabar, said once the curriculum is developed and approved, resources and lecturers drawn from Nigeria and international organisations would be readily available to teach the course.

    He noted that it had become necessary to introduce such courses on ethics and corruption because Nigerians have a poor knowledge of the consequence of corruption, hence the need to teach it in schools.

    “It is a known fact that corruption is our headache. We cannot fold our hands and let this vice eat deeper into our social fabric. We can fight it.

    “Corruption can be eradicated. Once corruption becomes a course of study in our tertiary institutions, our children, our future leaders, would know how to identify and tackle the malaise,” he said.

    Mr. Nta spoke in an interview shortly after the closing ceremony of a 10-week training programme on Corruption Risk Assessment.

    Asked to name the four governors that his commission was investigating, he said the commission does not thrive in sensationalism through premature disclosure of names since the investigations were based on allegations.

    On the challenges in fighting corruption in Nigeria, Mr. Nta mentioned the inability by most Nigerians to speak out as the main challenge.

    “Nigerians should not whip up ethnic, political and religious sentiments once a person close to them is arrested for corruption.

    “They should agree that corruption is evil and therefore rise up against the vice irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.”

  • Corruption beyond government’s capacity – Buhari

    Corruption beyond government’s capacity – Buhari

    Former head of state, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has said the fight against corruption in Nigeria was beyond the capacity of any government because the scourge was deeply rooted in the nation.

    Buhari , who stated this at the 4th British- African Diaspora Conference with the theme: “Stable Democracy and Nigeria’s Economy”, held at the British House of Parliament, said corruption still remained the old and ever present devil that had eaten into all facets of life in the country.

    The conference took place on Monday night in London.

    “Until serious efforts are made to tackle corruption which is beyond the capacity of the government, economic growth and stability will continue to elude us, “the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the former Nigerian leader as saying at the conference.

    Emphasising the need the cooperation of all Nigerian in this all important campaign, he quoted the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, as saying in a recent interview with `Daily Trust’ newspaper of February 14, 2013, that “there is no political will to fight corruption in Nigeria.’’

    He said this stresses the need for all hands to be on deck in our collective fight to eliminate the scourge from “our nation.”

    Buhari, however, said that Nigeria had the capacity to emerge as an economically competitive nation adding that “democracy’’ cannot function optimally without a certain level of economic attainment.

    He also spoke on a wide range of issues from state creation to zoning system, while expressing concern about the Independent National Electoral Commission and the 2015 general elections.

    According to him, the present leadership of the electoral body is incapable of delivering a fair election, as it had a “rosy relationship” with the executive and the judiciary.

    “INEC requires a group of independent minded people, patriotic and incorruptible, who have the courage and the capacity to handle such a strenuous assignment of conducting elections in Nigeria,” he said.

    Speaking on poverty and wealth creation, the Congress for Progressive Congress chief said there was no short cut to poverty eradication order than to get people to work and earn money.