Saraki's acquittal: SERAP urges Osinbajo to set up anti-corruption commission...Seeks UN support in anti-graft war

Date: 2017-06-16

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has described the dismissal of Sen. Bukola Saraki's trial by the Code of Conduct Tribuna yesterday as an indication of serious shortcomings in the nation's criminal justice system.

Saraki had been cleared of an 18-count charge filed against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau which includes false declaration of assets while he was governor Kwara state.

In its reaction to the dismissal of the case in a statement released by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, the civil rights group appealed to the Presidency to seek the support of the international community in prosecuting high-profile corrupt cases.

"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," it said.

The organization urged the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to urgently 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.

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.

"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 statement read in parts.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

CUTI     Umar Saro     Awoye     Okin Biscuit     International Vocational Centre     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     S.O. Opowoye     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Shururat Olatinwo     Yakubu Shaaba     Saliu Mustapha     Ishaq Salman     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Lanwa     Bank Of Industry     Daud Adeshola     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Kola Adesina     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     Lawal Jimoh     Towoju     Ilorin     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     IPSAS     Kumbi Titilope     Kwara United     Just Event Online     Olomu     Funmi Salau     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Akanji     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Balogun Fulani     Ashiru     Mohammed Danjuma     Pakata Development Association     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Arandun     Ilorin Muslim Community     Post-utme     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Oniwa     Aso Ofi     Elesie Of Esie     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Ibrahim Akaje     Monsurat Omotosho     Metro Park     Ogidi-Oloje     Razaq Atunwa     Kwara State Polytechnic     Alaiye     Raheem Adaramaja     Gobir Organization Foundation     Saeedat Aliyu     Sa\'adu Salahu     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Labaeka     Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim     Toyin Saraki     Afetu Of Alabe     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Alabe     Ayo Opadokun     Amina El-Imam     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Harafat E. Mukadam     TESCOM 2025     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Akeem Olatunji     Elerinjare     ITP    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Isiaka Alikinla     Iyaloja-General     Suwa-Arabs     Owu Fall     Olateju Lukman     Okiki     KW-GIS     Jide Ashonibare     Emir Of Lafiagi     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Post-utme     Lafia Aliyu Korasabi     Temitope Ogunbanke     Ajase-Ipo     LAK Jimoh     Yunus Lawal     Sabitiyu Grillo     Oke Sunna     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Roseline Oni Aremu     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Minister     Ibrahim Gambari     Bisi Oyeleke     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     VADA     Onilorin     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Radio SBS     Emir Of Ilorin     Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Oba Sulaiman Asude     Laolu Saraki     Col. Adedipe     Guber Aspirant     ER-KANG     Old Oyo     Abdulkarim Adisa     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Idofin     Maigidasanma     Alapansapa     SWAN     Illyasu Abdullahi     BIR     Ajuloopin     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Bolaji Nagode     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Abdullah Janet Amudat     John Olobayo     Ajibike Katibi     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Cornelius Adebayo     Ogbondoroko     Seed Technologies     Babaloja-General     Amoyo     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Rafiu Olasile     KWACOBPA     IYA YUSUF     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Muhammed Danjuma     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Abubakar Aliagan     Royal FM     Yahaya Muhammad     Vishvas KOZ Tractors