NAN-H-54
Lawyers
By Moji Eniola
Lagos, Feb. 22, 2017 (NAN) A Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, on Wednesday urged lawyers in the country to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight in a bid to transform governance.
Oyebode said Buhari, being a global brand in terms of integrity with the support of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, an erudite lawyer, had the capacity for driving the war against corruption in the country.
He spoke in Lagos at a strategic roundtable organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA.
The theme of the roundtable is“Combating Corruption and Impunity : the Imperatives of Improving the Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Mechanisms and the Justice System in Nigeria.”
Oyebode said:“Corruption is systemic and we cannot just be fighting the symptoms.
“I plead with our lawyers to join the crusade and not just be only interested in their briefs because we have seen cases of corruption fighting back.
“The monies that disappeared into private pockets are monies that could have been used to develop our infrastructure, build schools, hospitals and other facilities that could have made life more meaningful for ordinary Nigerians.”
He commended SERAP for its unrelenting crusade against corruption, insisting that until the malaise was eradicated, Nigeria would not be able to make visible progress.
On his part, the Executive Director of SERAP, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said Nigerians had for many years regularly accused government officials of using public funds not only to line their own pockets, but to maintain “political control”.
“The previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan was no exception. A groundswell of public frustration with endemic and gross corruption under Jonathan helped Buhari secure Nigeria’s presidency in March 2015.
“Under Buhari’s guidance, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has launched a comprehensive anti-corruption campaign; hundreds of former and current government officials are under investigation.
“Perhaps most prominent among these is the oil minister in the Jonathan government, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is accused of presiding over $24 billion in opaque and mismanaged crude oil swap deals.
“A report by the Auditor-General of the Federation says the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit $16 billion to the Federation Account in 2014.
“Also, the former National Security Adviser, former governors and electoral commissioners are already in court.”
According to him, despite broad public support for the anti-corruption investigations, there are concerns about the independence, freedom of action and capacities of the judiciary and anti-corruption cases.
“The Bench and the Bar are also under the spotlight with some judges and lawyers facing allegations of corruption.
“Corruption remains intertwined with politics and as noted, there are brazen attacks on those fighting corruption,” Mumuni added.
He, however, expressed concern that the slow pace of prosecutions could deny Nigeria the opportunity to translate the anti-corruption agenda into systemic reforms.
The Chairman of the Roundtable, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), said Nigerians must resist corruption at all levels.
“There is a misconception that corruption is only in the highest realm of public service, this is wrong as corruption starts from the lowest ladder,” he said.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, also said at the occasion that efforts should be intensified to curb corruption in the nation’s judiciary.
“Corruption is not limited to a particular person. If you pay a visit to the Kirikiri Prisons, there are at least two senior lawyers with at least 10 years experience in the bar, who are serving jail terms for corruption.
“We cannot allow corruption to exist in the judiciary because this is the last hope for the common man,” the chief judge, who was represented by the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court, Mr Emmanuel Ogundare, said. (NAN)
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Editing by Dele Akinsola