…as NOA, CBOs caution Nigerians against complicity in corruption

By Doyin Ojosipe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have advised the Federal Government to establish special courts in order to address the delay in dispensation of criminal justice.

The anti-graft agencies made the appeal on Thursday, February 27, 2020, at a one day workshop on whistleblowing and the fight against corruption in Nigeria, which was organised for Community-Based Organisations in Ibadan.

Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, EFCC, who was represented by Dr Ben Ubi, Head Legal and Prosecutions Department at the commission, said the slow pace of process of adjudicating criminal justice cases seems to have become a norm with the Judiciary.

He said the slow pace of disposing cases contribute to waning faith in the anti-corruption fight by Nigerians.

His words, “ The delays in the dispensation of justice in corruption cases is one major challenge to the implementation of this policy as it predisposes the whistle blower to the danger of being attacked by the accused who is yet to be put behind bars, it is hoped that with the coming to be of the Administration of Justice Act, 2015 which has been domesticated by most of the states in the federation, there will soon be speedy dispensation of justice in corruption cases.”

Magu also advised the National Assembly to pass the Whistleblowing bill into law, adding that the policy could be done away with at any time, especially when there is change in government.

Emphasizing on the benefits of whistleblowing, he urged state governments to join in the anti-corruption fight by adopting the policy.

Similarly, the CCB, in its presentation, said one of the best ways to encourage whistleblowing was to prosecute and deliver criminal justice as at when due.

Prof Mohammad Isah, Chairman of CCB, represented by Mr Bolaji Amao, Assistant Chief Superintendent of the Bureau in Ibadan, said the fact that cases are allowed to drag for over 10 years calls for the establishment of special courts.

He said, “There is a need to have legislation that harmonises the anti-corruption agencies, so that they can have their cases tried in a special court… the CCB is privileged to have a sister agency such as the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which tries cases relating to asset declaration and false claims.”

Isah urged Nigerians to be observant enough to know when a public servant is being dubious by logically matching their salaries with so called investments.

He said, “When you see a public servant that is earning less than 100 thousand naira and he has a property in high brow areas, then there is a need to investigate such people and report them if found wanting.”

The ICPC, in its submission, advocated for a special court, but emphasized on the need for Nigerians to own the whistle-blower policy and see it as means to support the anti-corruption fight.

According to Chairman of the Commission, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, “whistle-blower policy is to encourage members of the public to contribute their quota in the fight against corruption by making relevant information available to the various anti-corruption agencies as well as law enforcement agencies so that we can rid Nigeria of all forms of corruption and other related offences.”

Owasanoye who was represented by Mr David Oluwole, Chief Superintendent (Investigation) of the Commission, Oyo state noted that the original plan of the whistleblowing policy was to ensure that whistle-blowers’ identities are kept secret to shield them from reprisals, adding that the ICPC has succeeded in doing that to the best of its ability.

However, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) who participated in the workshop knocked Nigerians for indirectly participating in corrupt acts while encouraging thieving public servants, especially politicians.

Dr Garba Abari, DG NOA, represented by Mr Moshood Olaleye, Deputy Director, Programmes Oyo state, said it was unfortunate that the masses are passive and unassertive in the fight against corruption.

He said “While social infrastructures collapse, the masses are largely indifferent in several instances, they are passive and unassertive to the issues of corruption.

Corrupt personalities and politicians are celebrated with chieftaincy titles, political appointments and honoured with doctorate degrees at national and international universities.”

He noted that many Nigerians do not even care to know how such people made their sudden wealth, knowing that they couldn’t afford the lifestyle based on their monthly take home.

Abari therefore urged Nigerians to desist from aiding corrupt individuals and begin to demand for the dividends of democracy by holding their representatives accountable.

Mr Obatunde Oladapo, Executive Director of PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation) said some Nigerians glorify corruption and dubious acts rather than correct it.

“We have seen jokes of young persons who glorify being dubious, instead of us to seize these opportunities to re-orientate our people, we look the other way and things are getting worse. We should engage Nollywood and include the message of anti-corruption and good governance in school curriculum to teach our children, so that we can have a better tomorrow,” he said.

Mrs Deborah Salami, Deputy Coordinator, Childolescent and Family Survival Organization- Women Rights Action Group for Development (CAFSO- WRAG) also noted that Nigerians are most of the time, ready to give bribes to either facilitate one thing or the other or even to security operatives who may be looking for ways to extort them.

Salami urged Nigerians to stop encouraging corruption by not always being in a hurry to give bribes especially when what they are being accused of was not true.

“If you must pay, let them bill you and ensure the fee is paid into government account, this will go a long way to check all their misconducts”, she added.

Earlier in his presentation, AFRICMIL Program Manager, Mr Abdulaziz Abdulaziz urged Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to get involved in the whistleblowing policy by sensitizing others and advocating for its adoption at the state level.

He said, “Whistleblowing policy could be sold to leaders at the state level for possible replication. It could save the government a lot in terms of leakages.”

Addressing participants, Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator, AFRICMIL said, the workshop was part of the initiative to raise awareness on the whistleblowing policy among Nigerians, which is expected to garner support for the anti-graft war.

In his words, “The goal is to train local CSOs and CBOs across the country on how they can use the whistleblowing mechanism in demanding for accountability and exposing corruption at the grassroots.

These organisations have a stake whether it is monitoring constituency projects, reporting on abandoned projects or abuse of office by political actors at the state and local government levels.

“We hope at the end of the process we would have cultivated a citizenry that is conscious of its role in tackling the menace of corruption.”

Onumah said the workshop, was the third in the series of the lined up program under the Corruption Anonymous project, supported by the MacArthur Foundation.