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.

Amuda Bembe     Adeleke Ogungbe     Salihu Yahaya     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Government High School Adeta     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Mohammed Lawal     Sheikh Ariyibi     ER-KANG Mining     Ronke Adeyemi     Olaitan Buraimoh     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Clara Nwachukwu     Salihu S. Yaru     Lawal Jimoh     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     Farouk Salim     Issa Manzuma     Adeola Abraham     Hauwa Nuru     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Mutawalle     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Taofik Abdulkareem     Babs Iwarere     AGM Professional Services     Overland     Saduki Lafiagi     Charles Ibitoye     Lawal Olohungbebe     Susan Modupe Oluwole     AbdulRauf Keji     Oko-Olowo     Babatunde Idiagbon     Alabe     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Pategi     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Tsado Manman     Bashirat Bola Bello     General Hospital, Offa     Wale Oladepo     Oyawoye     Femi Oladiji     ITEM 7     Olugbense     Ahman Pategi University     Moses Salami     Ilorin     Charcoal     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Ibrahim Mohammed     Olayinka Are     Frootify     Valsolar     Jare Olatundun     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Nigerian Correctional Service     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Christopher Odetunde     Awoye     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Assayomo     SUBEB     Taofik Mustapha     Sulyman Buhari     Zaratu Umar     High Court     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Aso Ofi     Galadiman Ngeri     Rachael Obisesan     Owo Isowo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Kwara TV     New Naira Notes     Kaosarah Adeyi     James Ayeni     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Ojuekun     Ibrahim Oniye     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Galadima     Kwara Politics     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Muhammadu Gobir     Alapado     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Bilikisu Gambari     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Kisra     Oya State     Ishola Moses Abiodun     The Herald     Afolayan     Kwabes     Post Utme     Salake     Nurudeen Mohammed     Tsado Manman     Saka Adeyemo     Okin Group     Shettima     Oba Abu     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Olusola Saraki     Kayode Laro     Sabi     Muhammed Danjuma     Muhammed Aliyu     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Suleiman Ajadi     Budo-Egba     Mohammed Abdulahi     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Naira Redesign     Yemi Osinbajo     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Monthly Sanitation     Peter Amogbonjaye     Okedare     Cornelius Adebayo     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Oniyangi     Umar Ayinla Saro     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Anilelerin     Isiaka Oniwa     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Erubu Oba Zubair     Sambo Murtala     Tosho Yaqub     Durbar     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Third Estate     Unilorin     March 18     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Sarah Jubril     Titus Ashaolu     CELF     Turaki Of Ilorin     Sebastine Obasi     Olateju Lukman     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Baba Isale     Abdulraheem Olesin     Aiyedun     Abiodun Oyedepo