Former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday accused President Goodluck Jonathan and other key officials of the government of rubbishing anti-corruption war in the country.
Ribadu, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, presidential candidate in the 2011 general election, said: “So many corrupt people get away with their acts, largely because of their relationships with heads of institutions that ought to counter or expose their abuse of office.
“Some convicts are being granted state pardon, thereby rubbishing the whole effort at corruption. These practices have turned corruption into a sort of culturally or ethically accepted trend.”
He said this in Lagos yesterday at the pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni Association with the theme, “Corruption and Justice in Nigeria”.
Ribadu said that only a corrupt- free president “who is also ready to subject his cronies to processes of the law, in case of infringement, can lead the crusade against corruption.”
The former EFCC boss also cited impunity and lack of political will to fight corruption as one of the basic reasons why the menace persists in the country.
He also attributed interference in the jobs of law enforcement agencies and some loopholes in the justice administration as hitches to successful anti-corruption war in Nigeria.
The ex-EFCC boss added that corruption profile of Nigeria had been rising to a worrisome level as many convicts were unpunished or given a mild sentences for monumental theft.
He also described the recent pardon of some highly placed individuals convicted of corruption by the Federal Government as rubbishing the war against corruption.
Ribadu said: “To call corruption evil is a cliché, but there may be no better way to put it. Most people familiar with my professional work will recall easily that I have consistently argued that corruption represents the most important factor that undermines our independence, our economy, and most certainly our politics.
“Corruption is a global challenge with strong and influential networks of local and international interdependent players.
“These fraternities among the cronies involved in this crime forestall efforts to fight and break the networks. These networks conduct their activities through accomplices in home countries and collaborative individuals, agencies or multinational corporations overseas.
“The Nigerian system follows the pattern of the international networks, with its interdependent chains of reputed individuals at corporate, bureaucratic and political establishments unified in acts that have destroyed the ethics of our private and public institutions.
“Before the coming of EFCC in 2003, there were very few high-profile cases of corruption that were successfully prosecuted. EFCC’s interventions led us into various networks that have previously enjoyed impunity and notoriety, from the internet scams that dent the image of the country to abuse of office at private and public sectors.”
Ribadu said that it takes a great deal of goodwill and readiness of the political leadership to launch an effective anti-corruption campaign, citing the example of the infamous Malabu oil deal and the report of the Presidential Taskforce on oil Revenue as being jeopardised by executive silence.
He said: “My recent work on oil revenue, for example, which unearthed sharp practices in that industry has not been given any attention. No action has been taken on the report. Despite its sheer magnitude and the bad name it brought to Nigeria, nothing appeared to be done by the government on the $1.1billion Malabu oil scandal.
Ribadu, however, dispelled the clamour for special courts for corruption, arguing that what was needed was a review of the procedural laws and sincere application of same by any court of competent jurisdiction.
He also charged the legislative arm of government to be alert to its oversight responsibilities which, he said, is a primary mechanism of tackling corruption.
Source: National Mirror
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