Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stated that,
“the acquittal yesterday of the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code
of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) of corruption charges suggests serious
shortcomings in the criminal justice system, and means that a
complementary and supportive mechanism in the form of a UN-backed
commission against corruption and impunity in Nigeria is urgently needed
to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s oft-stated anti-corruption
agenda.”
The organization urges “the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo to
urgently and proactively pursue the establishment of a UN-backed
International Commission Against Corruption and Impunity to assist our
criminal justice system to effectively and efficiently investigate and
prosecute high-level corruption cases in the country, like it happened in
Guatemala, for example. This government needs help in its fight against
corruption, and strong leadership is now needed to urgently design a
complementary and supportive plan.”
The CCT yesterday dismissed the 18-count charge of false asset declaration
against Saraki following his no-case submission. But SERAP in a statement
today by its deputy director Timothy Adewale said that, “The acquittal of
Mr Saraki has exposed deep flaws in the country’s legal framework against
corruption, and seriously weakened any notion of accountability of
high-ranking public officials accused of corruption.”
According to SERAP, “A UN-backed commission would help to improve our
criminal justice system in the short, medium and long terms so that it
would be better able to prosecute complex grand corruption cases. It would
also meet the longstanding and legitimate demands of the Nigerian people
for vigorous and meaningful action against corrupt leaders, past or
present.”
The statement read in part: “Supporting a strong partnership between
Nigerian prosecutors and international law enforcement experts would show
that the authorities have the ability and political will to chip away at
the country’s corruption and impunity of perpetrators, and help address
Nigerians’ scepticism about the viability of the anti-corruption agenda.”
“Further, to end a culture of corruption and impunity of perpetrators, we
urge the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice Mr
Abubakar Malami, SAN to urgently take over the prosecution of the
corruption case against Mr Saraki by ensuring that the CCT decision is
urgently appealed and that the case is diligently prosecuted within the
limits of the rule of law.”
“The outcome of the Saraki’s case sends a damaging message that suspected
corrupt leaders can get away with their crimes, while keeping their stolen
assets. Many would-be corrupt leaders may now see engaging in acts of
corruption a risk worth taking.”
“The Guatemalan commission established by the UN in 2006 has a strong
record of fighting organized crime and high-level corruption and the
Nigerian authorities can learn valuable lessons from its operation and
achievements in the efforts to take the fight against corruption in this
country to another level.”