Coalition Of CSOs Berates Attacks On Anti-graft Agencies
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria has unanimously condemned a series of malicious attacks aimed at frustrating the efforts of anti-graft agencies in their fight against corruption in the country.
At a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, the group through the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa, addressed the state of corruption in the country and proposed actionable recommendations.
InsideBusiness recalls that Anti-graft agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), have been under attacks from some quarters recently, especially over the prosecution of the ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on money laundering to the tune of N80.2bn.
Addressing newsmen, Musa expressed concerns over foreign and domestic enablers who he identified as significant contributors to corruption cases in Nigeria, necessitating a comprehensive approach to address their roles in facilitating corruption.
The coalition, which comprises no less than 50 CSOs, raised alarm over judicial corruption, citing instances where influential individuals manipulate the legal system to evade accountability. They emphasized the need for the judiciary to uphold its autonomy and integrity to restore public trust.
“It’s widely accepted that transparency and accountability are crucial elements that enable democracies to flourish. In Nigeria however, our so-called “democracy” has persistently functioned under a veil of secrecy and lawlessness. The management of the country’s resources has consistently disregarded the fundamental principles of democracy.
“Over the past few weeks, we have observed with great concern, the malicious attacks and deliberate efforts to blackmail anti-corruption agencies through sponsorship influencers, incentivised opinion publications in some national dailies, online and electronic platforms, all targeted at discouraging anti-corruption efforts and shielding the kleptocrats from thorough investigation. The pattern is clear, there is an unfolding plot of surreptitious moves to backpedal on the progress made by anti-corruption progress.
“Judicial corruption constitutes a major challenge to anti-corruption work in Nigeria. The looters have repeatedly used their influence to manipulate the judicial process and system, to block and/or delay the arrest or prosecution of suspects. This blatant disregard for the rule of law has eroded public trust and reinforced the perception that Nigeria’s democracy is nothing more than a facade. Clearly, the judiciary is not living up to its responsibility of ensuring that the rule of law and provisions of the constitution are upheld.
“There have been several allegations of judicial officers receiving bribes from politicians and politically exposed persons in-order to circumvent the law. This has watered down the respect, trust and confidence of citizens in the judiciary and negatively impacted the fight against corruption. Nigerians have witnessed too many situations where courts have granted injunctions which deterred anti-corruption agencies from inviting and prosecuting corrupt government officials and politically exposed persons.
“Nigerians have witnessed with alarm, numerous cases featuring a high number of foreign enablers from Switzerland, Monaco, Panama, British Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom (UK) facilitating corruption. Enablers from the UK are particularly strongly linked to Nigerian cases. Of course, Nigeria also has a number of domestic enablers involved in cases.
“Out of 87 enablers captured, 5 enablers are from Nigeria: 3 lawyers/law firms and 2 real estate agents. This is due to cases involving, for example, Nigerian lawyers managing trusts on behalf of their clients that are then used to move funds abroad,” Musa noted.
The Executive Director, CISLAC also highlighted the detrimental impact of appointing individuals with corruption allegations to key political positions, calling for decisive action to uphold political transparency and accountability.
He went further by linking high rate of corruption to insufficient funding for anti-corruption agencies, misinformation and the growing involvement of youth in criminal activities, including cybercrimes and thuggery.
He therefore condemned the withdrawal of police support from anti-corruption agencies in Kano State, highlighting the need to reinforce the independence and effectiveness of these institutions.
“We are also concerned by the recent withdrawal of Police from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. This withdrawal of about 40 Police officers who were responsible for security and investigative tasks has not only hampered the work of the anti-corruption agency in Kano State, but also endangered the Police’s obligation to operate with impartiality and independence.
“It appears that this move is not unconnected to the attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigations into corruption allegations levelled against the National Chairman of the ruling All-Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,” the CSO lamented.
The group thereafter proposed a series of recommendations to combat corruption effectively, which includes, upholding judicial integrity and autonomy, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance, while calling on religious, community, and opinion leaders in promoting ethical behavior.
“Growing concerns over the declining levels of autonomy and integrity of the judiciary must be addressed. The National Judicial Council must diligently monitor its members and promptly remove any corrupt judicial officer found to be compromising the judicial system. By doing so, it will significantly contribute to the restoration of sanity and the promotion of accountability within the nation.
“To truly establish a flourishing democracy, transparency and accountability must be strictly adhered to in governance. This requires holding politicians accountable for their actions and inactions, strengthening institutions to combat corruption, and ensuring that the allocation of resources is done in a fair and equitable manner. Only through these measures can Nigeria overcome its socio-economic challenges and build a democracy that truly serves the interests of the citizens.
“We urge the ruling All-Progressive Party (APC) and other political parties to take decisive action in purging its ranks by denouncing and breaking support with their members who are currently being investigated by anti-corruption agencies. This can be operationalised by suspending all members tainted by corruption allegations and ensuring they are held accountable before the law.
“Religious leaders have a unique platform to influence their followers and promote ethical behaviour. They can use their sermons, teachings, and religious texts to emphasize the importance of honesty, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of life. By speaking out against corruption and promoting integrity, they can help shape the moral compass of their communities and inspire individuals to resist the temptation of engaging in corrupt practices,” the group appealed.