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Don’t collect the money only! Disclose to make them count!

By Akpo Esajere
01 February 2016   |   4:40 am
RETURN or collection of every kobo of stolen money is clearly the thrust of the on-going anti-corruption war. It is the very nexus and grit of the campaign. If nothing else, the mass media frenzy cum saturation coverage indicates that. On daily basis, press/social media accounts seek to provide a background confirmation to what has…
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

RETURN or collection of every kobo of stolen money is clearly the thrust of the on-going anti-corruption war. It is the very nexus and grit of the campaign.

If nothing else, the mass media frenzy cum saturation coverage indicates that. On daily basis, press/social media accounts seek to provide a background confirmation to what has been known over the ages, in addition to annual Transparency International statistical testimonies that Nigeria is one of the world’s corrupt and looted countries.

The people are fed on a daily and sometimes, nightly diet of the nation’s government looted treasury, arrests and/or arraignments, invitations, detention or release of former government officials, petitions, seizure/take-over of properties such as mansions, hotels, shopping mall, and others.

Senior government persons like Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Senator Shehu Sani and Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed are yelling quite a bit.

Mohammed, for example, often draws more public attention to the cases of alleged corruption than even the anti-corruption spokespersons. His latest entry – government compilation of a list of 55 past officials like governors, legislators, bankers and businessmen alleged to have stolen about N1.4 trillion – was no product of well-investigated, water-tight evidences and proofs for convicting the accused.

He portrays the campaign like fishing for crimes and culprits even as he charges the media to sustain support for government in fighting corruption; that the government has made a success of re-positioning the crusade and putting it on the front burner of national discourse and awareness, thus raising the war’s high content propaganda without persuasive substance.

The heavy debate

On balance, however, controversies seem to continue to greet various aspects of the crusade: whether it is creation of public awareness without serious impact; whether it could deal a heavy blow on the systemic malaise and its debilitating impact on Nigeria.

The campaign is nationally and globally applauded. President Muhammadu Buhari is commended for distinguishing the campaign under him by giving sustained government support to anti-corruption agencies and security personnel to do their job.

Still, much debate and criticisms dwell on the methodologies being employed and government’s handling of some of the alleged corruption cases:

Looting of the country has continued in spite of various laws under the Criminal and Penal Codes, inauguration of anti-corruption agencies like Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) both instituted by former President Olusegun Obasasnjo, respectively in 2000 and 2004: without taking a fresh look at anti-corruption laws, and the way offenders are prosecuted, would the campaign work? Can corrupt “big men” be prosecuted and convicted?

By far, the most controversial plank concerns full disclosures: as in, whether it is true or false that some persons have returned or are returning stolen money; publication of names of such persons; amounts they are alleged to have stolen; amounts returned or to be returned; release and continuous public update (s) on monies returned and/or expected to be returned;

What government is doing with returned monies: saved or ploughed; mode/variety of returns – ascension to crusade/avoiding prosecution, sold properties, plea bargain; who faces each category; why etcetera.

Temporary scorecard

Under the Buhari campaign, only retired Brigadier-General Isa Jafaru, a former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), speculated to be the President’s friend and backer for his election, has been identified as returning N140 million out of an alleged N160million which he had allegedly illegally obtained.

This disclosure by the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu at a press conference in Lagos was without what happens to the remaining N20million and it is not clear whether Alhaji Isa’s case has concluded or not.

It is the butt of contentions in the trial of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh. On it, the party and its supporters have continued to raise hell against the manner of the campaign’s execution, which they tagged as selective and vindictive.

Metuh, alleged to illegally collect alleged N400 million through a private company allegedly owned by him, was allowed to go home last week on bail fixed for N400 million. He faces trial as from tomorrow.

Buhari’s resolve and determination

PHOTO: blog.nigerianinsight.com

PHOTO: blog.nigerianinsight.com

On two occasions, the President sought to diffuse criticisms. In the Iranian capital city, Tehran last November, Buhari on a visit to that country, said those who looted the public treasury under former President Goodluck Jonathan had started returning stolen funds to government coffers.

Prosecution of suspects, he said, takes time, owing to the painstaking gathering of hard evidence against them. He had referred to democratic constraints under the rule of law where they are presumed innocent until convicted by law.

This, he said, is unlike his days as a military Head of State when he could formally put individuals in protective custody.

It can be recalled that in those days (between October and December 1983) state governors accused of corruption were jailed for many years. A governor of old Kano State, Alhaji Sabo Barkin Zuwo was accused of illegal possession of N3.6 million.

That would child’s play now despite that the net value of the Naira then cannot be compared to now. The barely literate Zuwo, now deceased, was said to even tell his accusers that it was not only N3.6 million but that there was more under his pillow! It is now tough business getting “big men” to own up.

Said the President, “When we get those documents we will formally charge them to court. Then, we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching.”

And in Abuja, at the Anyiam-Osigwe 15th Annual Lecture, the President declared: “We have taken steps towards recovering a reasonable amount of money that was looted or misappropriated from public coffers. As I stated recently, a number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning their funds.”

Grey areas/sore points

Not the number, the names or the amount is known. He said: “I have heard it said that we should disclose names of people and the amount returned. Yes, in due course, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will make information available to the public on surrendered funds, but I must remark that it is early in the day. Any disclosures now may jeopardize the possibility of bigger recoveries. We owe Nigerians adequate information and it shall come in due course.”

“Investigations are on-going on public officers who served and still serving and those whose conduct are questionable will be compelled to accept the path of honour and surrender the loot. As I stated recently, a number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning the illicit funds.

Still, there are questions about transparency of the campaign: how the people can be carried along to increase both public awareness and support; are the methods employed so far adequate and capable of yielding desired results: are people really swearing by and vouching for the essentiality of the campaign or merely menaced and resigned to frustrations, thus acquiesced or resigned to accepting whatever fight the government says it put up against it. Indeed, when is due course?

Thus, there is an overwhelming sense in imposing greater certainty, stability, assurance, support, credibility and legitimacy on the crusade; if not through full disclosures but half; if not with names and amount/monies but by total cum periodic disclosure of returns/prosecution/sales returns.

Before he quit power in 2007, Obasanjo set up two important institutions – for Fiscal Responsibility and Public Procurements – crucial, globally accepted anti-corruption and due process governmental creations to check abuse of contracts and enhance the workings of government institutions; long employed by developed and latter-day arrived countries like China and India.

Nigerian politicians continue to either keep them in abeyance or frustrate their effective implementation and operations

On the whole, the current on-going anti- campaign’s main spearhead is the EFCC backed by other anti-corruption agencies, government spokesmen and women and mass media campaigns.

Right now, the war is playing out mainly through revelations – of names of some alleged suspects and some trials over alleged stolen money from the public purse.

It was so in the past. Few were jailed. None at the present has gone to jail. Whether this is enough or deep enough to make the desire impact on corruption and looting of the public coffers remain in contention – making the argument that the campaign should accommodate intermittent reports and updates on returned monies eminently very persuasive.

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