FG is doing nothing to fight corruption- ex ICPC chairman

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Former Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offence Commission (ICPC) and President of Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) Malam Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali have noted that Federal Government was not doing enough to prosecute corrupted governors,politicians and public office holders.

Justice Akanbi, who stated this while speaking during  a public lecture on: ‘Corruption – the bane of our society’,  organised by Amicus International Club, in Ilorin yesterday, said none of any governors were taken to the courts for prosecution giving the impression that all of them were not corrupt.

He said: “Speaking for myself, I ask myself this question: Does it mean all the governors are corrupt-free? does it mean all the legislators are corruption-free? does it mean the judiciary are corruption free? We know that it is happening but people are not being arrested, no action is being taken; and the end  result is that people accept bribe with impunity now.

“At least if they had taken  few people to court, we would have known that something is being done. There is a general lull and the fight against corruption has gone down completely. That is why we are gearing up the tempo now, so that people can be aware of it.

“Now, when you look at many people wanting to be governors, is it because they want to serve their people or that  they want to go and chop, chop chop?  It is apparent that many of them want to enrich themselves, because  they know that when you go there you make money and become wealthy, ditto going to the legislature.  Yet, people are suffering; there is no development. There is corruption, kidnapping and the ills of the society have gone on the ascendency.”

The former President of Court of Appeal added “Honestly, in terms of these governors, who have been arrested? We know about Oduahgate,  and the   billions of Naira that Sanusi alleged that was missing. The terrible things is that the judiciary is not helping.

 “The indices are that the moments are dark, the clouds have thickened, corruption is escalating. And we cannot pretend. The Transparency International put us at the position of 136th corrupt nation. You cannot deny it, even though it is a perception. Honestly, I do not see what is being done about corruption now”.

In his remark, Malam Ola-Olu Ali (SAN)said  Nigerians should realise that corruption makes all citizens poorer in the short and long run.