The United States Mission in Nigeria announced that individuals involved in corrupt practices, regardless of their status or position can be denied entry into the United States. The Mission shared the message via its official X account (formerly Twitter), last Monday. The statement said: “Fighting corruption knows no borders or limits on accountability. Even when high-profile individuals engage in corruption, they can be barred from receiving U.S. visas.”

From social media accounts, that message sparked conversation on corruption and whether government and stakeholders are doing enough to combat it. Some are excited that the United States and others are interested in curtailing those who plunder the commonwealth and launder the proceeds in safe offshore havens.

There are however some who reasoned that just denying someone visa is not sufficient punishment for financial crimes. They suggested it is better to grant suspected corrupt persons visas first, then have them prosecuted whenever they travel. They say since it is difficult to fight them at home, as they are entrenched in the system, let the U.S. get on with the job. Yet, some are not impressed. They say Western countries provide the leverage and cover for stolen funds.

To buttress their lukewarmness, they recalled that the same United States, in May 2023, promised that persons who disrupted the 2023 general elections would be denied visas. In a statement issued by the U.S. State Department, former Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said: “the United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections cycle.”

It’s hard to see any individual who undermined the 2023 elections that was denied visa on that account. Instead, many of those who threatened, harassed, intimidated and carried out violent acts on peaceful voters during the elections have become highly placed public officials today. Some of them travel with diplomatic passports and enjoy expedited visa processing.

Some election riggers and hate speech merchants are currently attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80). They’re still a threat to free and fair elections in their conduct and utterances. They have not repented from issuing threats towards 2027, perhaps because there were no consequences for previous offences.

In 2019, the governments of the U.S. and UK also warned that those who advocated the use of violence before, during and after the elections would face visa sanctions. They promised to closely monitor actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence.

On that occasion, the UK government said: “We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s Observation Mission. Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law…”

In the 2023 elections, both the European Union Observer team and the BBC gave damning reports of what they witnessed. The EU EOM reported of multiple incidences of voter intimidation by supporters of the ruling party. It said: “The elections exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and therefore signal the need for a further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.”

The Mission made recommendations in six priority areas: remove ambiguities in the law; establish a publicly accountable selection process for INEC members; ensure real-time publication of and access to election results; provide greater protection for media practitioners; address discrimination against women in political life, and address impunity regarding electoral offence.

Half way into the tenure of those who benefited from that election, none of the suggested reforms have been carried out. It is not likely that will happen before the next elections. But the beneficiaries of the discredited elections have been lounging in London, France and all over the place, for leisure and medical tourism. No remorse and no travel ban.

In the case of the BBC, the news organisation reported that it uncovered significant anomalies in Rivers State during the 2023 presidential election. The election, it said, were manipulated in the key battleground, to give the candidate of the ruling party a clear majority, whereas the tally it carried out showed that the candidate of the Labour Party actually received most votes by a wide margin. It was a bazaar of incorrectly uploaded and missing results, one month after the election took place.

Local election monitors, Yiaga Africa, corroborated BBC’s findings, warning that the elections were a missed opportunity and that INEC must undergo fundamental reforms. There are no fundamental reforms anywhere to ensure that 2027 comes out better. Those who engineered the brigandage and robbery in Rivers State have added more portfolios to their deplorable profile. There are no consequences.

Nonetheless, foreign governments have contributed to breakthroughs recorded in the fight against corruption. In that regard, the advocacy on fiscal discipline by the U.S. Mission is valuable and encouraging, despite not providing sufficient deterrence.

The other time, the Mission raised the alarm over what it described as misplaced priorities of public officials at a time citizens endure hardship. In a post on its official Facebook page in July, the Mission said: “while Nigerians are urged to endure economic hardship ‘like labour pains,’ some governors are splurging billions on new government houses.”

Heaven helps those who help themselves. Perhaps, foreign governments could do more if Nigerians demonstrate real anger over monumental levels of corruption and organised banditry. They are waiting for others to do their battle. Sometimes, they applaud corruption and find excuses for their tribesmen who are blatantly corrupt. When victims of corruption are reluctant to challenge their tormentors, that’s not impetus for foreign governments to do more.

Instead, victims of corruption are the ones hired as cyber rats and propagandists to disseminate hate speech and lies. They’re the ones recruited to cause mayhem during elections while children of politicians live in overseas mansions paid for with stolen money. Children of politicians attend quality schools outside the country while those hired as thugs are fed on crumbs. They attend schools where lecturers are poorly paid and learning is epileptic.

Some diaspora brethren, in their bewilderment, say they’re unable to comprehend the stranglehold of the political class on the populace. They cannot understand why citizens lack the capacity to resist domination by a tiny political class, even peacefully via elections. They think we are zombies. One’s retort is: Just the same way some wondered how Hitler and others like him got that far with daredevilry.

Not until General Abacha died, he had millions of minions who matched for him despite his despotic ways. While the people matched, Abacha helped himself to the treasury, where he stole mindboggling sums for himself, family and friends.

But with assistance from foreign governments, Abacha’s looted money poured in from Europe and America. It is estimated that the late dictator laundered between $3 billion and $5 billion in foreign accounts, according compilations by the World Bank and Transparency International (TI). In 24 years, the Federal Government repatriated $3.65 billion of Abacha loot. There may be some who have stolen more than Abacha. But the man died!

Government to government collaboration is needed to unravel stolen funds stashed in foreign banks as well as those laundered to acquire property in foreign countries. But where there is no outrage, when government and financial crimes agencies bury their head deep in the sand, there’s little foreign governments can do, apart from issue threats. There is lethargy in government’s anti-corruption fight and that’s unhelpful.

The anti-corruption campaign by rights activist, freedom fighter and politician, Omoyele Sowore and the exchange between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is one opportunity for this government to make a difference or simply remain lethargic in tackling corruption.

In one of his numerous no-holds-barred television rants, Wike was asked by the anchor to explain leaked documents that purported he owned a $2 million mansion in Florida. Wike aggressively attempted to dismiss the rumour as not true. Then he said the property belonged to his wife and children who are citizens of the United States.

That seemed to rest the rumour, until Wike dragged Sowore into his endless diatribes. He challenged Sowore’s right to roughly tackle President Tinubu, claiming it is only in Nigeria that President Tinubu is insulted. It doesn’t happen in other countries, he claimed and that Nigerians should therefore consider themselves lucky. Really?

Irrepressible and indefatigable Sowore took Wike up and went further to dig up details of the property in Florida, which he traced to Wike and alleged could be proceeds of laundered funds. Sowore announced that he had petitioned the Attorney General of the State of Florida, to commence investigations into Wike’s $6 million Florida homes.

In the petition by Sowore’s lawyer, Deji Adenyanju, it was alleged that Wike and his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, secretly purchased three multimillion-dollar lakeside property in Winter Springs, Florida, worth over $6 million. The homes, the petition alleged were bought in cash.

While that remains within the realm of allegation, perhaps, it’s a wake-up call for President Tinubu to show indignation over the enormous corruption perception of this government.

In some countries, in the Orients, allegations of this magnitude lead to persons resigning voluntarily from government to allow unfettered investigations. In extreme cases, where nobility and family records are dragged in the mud, those involved hide their heads in shame and may commit harakiri.

While we do not recommend that, let there be public outrage against allegations of corruption. Let the government be quick to commence investigations. Let the Attorney General’s Office and that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) thank Sowore for the lead.

Let them go to Florida!