By Abubakar Yunusa
The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity has revealed that only three out of 614 anti-corruption probes initiated by the government have been concluded.
The Center launched the Probes Monitor Portal in 2022, a comprehensive database of grand-corruption investigations made public since 1999.
The aim is to raise awareness and push for the completion of these stalled investigations.
Executive Secretary Umar Yakubu highlighted this issue during a dialogue with media and civil society in Abuja.
Yakubu said as we mark 25 years of democracy, transparency and accountability are crucial. Without them, democracy’s foundation is at risk,” Yusuf stated.
He noted that numerous public sector corruption cases led to the formation of investigative panels, but their outcomes are rarely disclosed.
“This alarming discrepancy shows a significant accountability gap and questions the commitment of the National Assembly and other institutions to transparency and justice.”
Executive Director criticized the abandonment of these probes, saying, “It gives the impression of political theater designed to placate the masses temporarily without any genuine intention of addressing the underlying issues.”
He also pointed out the financial implications, stressing that incomplete probes waste substantial resources.
“Each investigation requires significant resources, and leaving them incomplete diverts funds from essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The lack of transparency allows corruption to continue unchecked, emboldening corrupt individuals due to the absence of consequences.
“The Center’s initiative aims to enhance scrutiny and accountability by providing a clear and accessible record of all probes and their statuses.
Yakubu emphasized the critical role of civil society and the media in advocating for transparency and holding the government accountable.
“Our efforts in monitoring, reporting, and pushing for probe implementation are invaluable. The media must keep these issues in the public eye.”
We called for an end to impunity, insisting, that “It is not enough to set up probes and then abandon them. Each investigation must be seen through to its conclusion, and the findings must be made public to restore faith in our institutions.”
