EU boosts anti-corruption fight with N10b

THE European Union, Friday, launched a four-year programme towards justice sector reforms and anti-corruption war in the country, lamenting that corruption and an ineffective justice system undermine Nigeria’s effort at economic and social development, as well as, the fight against poverty.  

This is coming at the background of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO), set up by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the National Judicial Council (NJC) towards judicial reforms.  

The committee was mandated to ensure accelerated judicial dispensation on corruption cases, in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA2015).  

The European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), Kurt Cornelis, announced that the European Union has budgeted the sum of €23.3m (about N10b), to fund a four-year Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme in Nigeria.  

Cornelis added that the British Council office in Nigeria will implement the programme, while the European Union has affirmed its commitment to support Nigeria towards improving the justice sector and strengthening the fight against corruption.   

According to the Programme Director, British Council, Dr Bob Arnot, the approach to RoLAC was not targeted at bringing predetermined solutions, but to work in collaboration with Nigerian state and non-state actors to develop and implement sustainable initiatives that will build upon the successes of EU’s previous support to Nigeria in the justice and anti-corruption sector under the 10th EDF.  

“The British Council’s long experience in Nigeria in the sectors will also be brought to bear to ensure the successful completion of all interventions,” he said.