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.

Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Bashirat Bola Bello     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Shettima     Yekeen Alabi     AGM Professional Services     2017 Budget     Voices Of Tomorrow     NYSC     Manzuma     Bolakale Saka     Kehinde Baale     National Broadcasting Commission     BECE     Ilorin Emirate     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Medview Airlines     Kazeem Gbolagade     Oyawoye     Ilorin East     Magaji Erubu     National Information Technology Development Agency     Sheikh Alimi     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Ubandawaki     Muhammadu Gobir     Chief Imam Of Offa     Sango-UITH Road     Suleiman Ajadi     Budo-Egba     Saka Saadu     Baba Issa Awoye     Omu Aran     Saadu Yusuf     Alaro     Ile Arugbo     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Offa Descendants Union     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Lithium     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Rafiu Ajakaye     Kwara Apc     Femi Agbaje     Kwara University Of Education     Oja-Oba     Idowu Aremu     Hamidu Olowo     Kwha.gov.ng     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Paul Odama     Apado     Ghali Muhammed     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Azeez Bello     Sanusi Abubakar     Sarah Jubril     Chief Of Staff     Nigerian Medical Association     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Kumbi Titiloye     Iliasu     Umar Saro     Kwara State Council Of Chiefs     Wahab Issa     Eghe Igbinehin     African Democratic Congress     Tsaragi     Fawenu     Awoye     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Oke Sunna     Saadu Alanamu     Tunde Oyawoye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Saba Mamman Daniel     BIR     Shehu Alimi Foundation     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Alapansapa     IHS Towers     Idowu Aremu     Oke-Oyi     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Sadiq Umar     Mazars Consulting     Isiaka Oniwa     Salihu Ajia     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Michael Ologundea     Farouk Salim     PharmAccess Foundation     Segun Adeniyi     Valsolar Consortium     TETFUND     Abdullahi Biffo     Makama     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Facebook     Shururat Olatinwo     Saliu Mustapha     Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku     Maigidasanma     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     IQRA College     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Orisa Bridge     Elections     Nigeria Customs Service     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Fola Consultant     Afonja Descendants Union     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Public Holiday     Eleyele     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Ebola     Teachers Specific Allowance     Benin Republic     Zaratu Umar     Olatunde Jare     Royal FM     Idofin     Yomi Adeboye     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Emir Of Yashikira     ASMAU PLAZA     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Oke-Ogun     Abdulraheem Olesin     Okiki     ER-KANG Mining     Osi     Yashikira     Marafan Shonga     Ajibola Ademola Julius     SGBN     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Nnazua     Ahmed     Innocent Okoye     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam     Abdullahi Samari     Atiku Abubakar     Bank Of Industry     Mohammed Lawal