TheNewsGuru

Tag: Anti-Corruption

  • Buhari’s anti-corruption war on track – SERAP

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has said the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is on track.

    This was revealed by the Executive Director of SERAP, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni.

    Mumuni spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the launch of SERAP’s latest report titled, “Combating Grand Corruption: An Agenda for Institutional Reforms in Anti-corruption Strategies”.

    He faulted claims in some quarters that the anti-graft campaign was selective, saying anyone who flouted the nation’s laws was supposed to face the music.

    Mumuni said :”This is my professional opinion as a lawyer and social rights campaigner. I believe that the war against corruption by this administration is on track.

    “Until Buhari came along, nobody knew how much of our money was being stolen, especially in the guise of buying weapons to combat insurgency.

    “So, it does not really matter if you belong to the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples Democratic Party; if you cannot account for over 2 billion dollars, then you deserve to face prosecution.”

    He explained that corruption eroded confidence in, and respect for democratic institutions, and was as an obstacle to social, economic and human development.

    Mumuni said the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, however, face challenges of inadequate legal framework and resources.

    As part of SERAP’s recommendations, he urged government at all levels to provide stronger and more concerted approach to tackling grand corruption in Nigeria.

    Mumuni urged the Attorney General of the Federation and those of the states to seek stiffer penalties for convicted corrupt officials and to minimise the use of plea bargaining to serve as deterrent.

    Also speaking, Dr Olajumoke Akiode, Director, Centre for Ethics and Sustainable Development, called for attitudinal change in the fight against corruption.

    “Until the citizens come together and say `enough is enough` , we cannot win this fight against corruption,” she said.

    On his part, Mr Babatunde Ogala, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, noted that undue pressure placed on politicians by their constituents had also contributed to widespread corruption in the country.

    Ogala said, ” Nigerian politicians are not measured by what they contribute to good governance but the assistance rendered to various individuals in their constituencies.

    “So, the society itself invests in corruption and that it why a collective effort is required to address this issue.”

     

     

     

  • EFCC holds nationwide anti-corruption walk Tuesday

    EFCC holds nationwide anti-corruption walk Tuesday

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Tuesday stage an anti-corruption walk intended to further stimulate Nigerians to embrace and support the fight against corruption.

    According to spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr Ibrahim Magu, is expected to lead the walk in Abuja.

    Uwujaren in a statement on Sunday quoted Magu as saying that the exercise was planned to coincide with the second anniversary of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Magu said the government’s focus on anti-corruption had galvanised the ant-graft establishment and raised hope that corruption can be fought with the right political will.

    “The EFCC walk against corruption is expected to feature stakeholders from different sectors including the organised labour, youth organisations, women groups and civil society organisations among others.

    “The exercise is expected to hold simultaneously in all the cities where the EFCC currently have offices.

    “These include Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Gombe, Ibadan, Benin, Maiduguri, Kano and Kaduna,” Uwujaren said.

    According to him, the walk will begin at the EFCC head office in Wuse 2, with a brief stop at the Unity Fountain where invited groups are to join the procession.

     

     

     

    NAN

     

  • FG reiterates call to support anti-corruption crusade

    The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Friday echoed the Federal Government’s call for public support in the anti-corruption crusade to achieve sustainable national development.

    The minister made the call at a seminar to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day with the theme, “Corruption: An Impediment to the Sustainable Development Goals’’.

    The event was facilitated by the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) in collaboration with the EU, U.S. Embassy and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    Fayemi, who chairs the IATT, stated that Nigeria was one of the first countries to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Merida, Mexico in 2003.

    To this end, he said that concerted efforts must be directed at fighting the monster called corruption in the country for it to be tamed.

    “There is no denying the fact that our country has massive corruption problems.

    “The current administration is running an anti-corruption agenda anchored on prevention, public engagement, sanctions and enforcement, and recovery of proceeds of corruption.

    “The sanction and enforcement mechanism is ensuring that there are no sacred cows,’’ a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, quoted him as saying.

    The minister said that Nigeria had an array of legislations and institutions for fighting corruption, including police, Code of Conduct Bureau, EFCC, ICPC, Bureau of Public Procurement and the NEITI, among others.

    He emphasised that the government had signed on to the ‘Open Government Partnership’ and developed an action plan for implementation in order to promote transparency within the polity.

    In a statement sent to UNODC, the Secretary-General of UN, Ban Ki-moon described corruption as a deadly monster that strangles people, communities and nations.

    Ki-moon said that the menace weakens education and health, undermines electoral processes and reinforces injustices by perverting criminal justice systems and the rule of law.

    He enjoined all to reaffirm their commitment to ending the deceit and dishonesty that threatens the 2030 Agenda and the efforts to achieve peace and prosperity for all on a healthy planet.

    The Executive Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov, harped on the need to unite to successfully eliminate corruption.

    The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had led staff of the commission on a road walk from its headquarters to the venue of the celebration.

    The walk, which was part of activities to mark the day, saw the staff dressed in colourful attires, and carrying banners with different messages such as, “Kill corruption before it kills Nigeria”.