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.

Adamu B. Yaqubu     Kwara State Fire Service     Ramadhan     Guber Aspirant     IF-K     Kamoru Kadiri     Taofeeq Olateju     Taiwo Joseph     David Adesina     CUTI     Kunle Suleiman     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Bola Sagaya     Ayedun     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Idi-Ape     Law School Scholarship     Ike Ekweremadu     Na\'Allah     Amusement Park     ER-KANG Mining     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Isiaka Danmeromu     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     GGDSS Pakata     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Onilorin     New Nigeria People’s Party     Rachael Obisesan     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Ilorin General Hospital     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Mansur Alfanla     Omoniyi Ayinla     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     Budo Egba     Bola Tinubu     Ashiru     Makama     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Oyedepo     Emir Of Ilorin     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Baboko     Ahmad Uthman     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Matthew Babaoye     Sola Saraki University     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Ajikobi     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Alaro     Idris Garuba     Valsolar Consultoria     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Modupe Oluwole     Isiaka Oniwa     VADA     Ojuekun     Air Peace     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Idiagbon     Curfew     Raimi Iyanda     Garment Factory     GRA     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Vasolar     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Eghe Igbinehin     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Universal Basic Education Commission     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Abdulraheem Olesin    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Olaosebikan     Michael Nzwekwe     Sherif Sagaya     Peter Obi     IYA YUSUF     Young Progressives Party     Yakub Ali-Agan     AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Folaranmi Aro     Bukola Ajikobi     Olaitan Adefila     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Suleiman Ajadi     Oyin-Zubair     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Haliru Yahaya     Rafiu Ibrahim     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Shaaba Lafiagi     Illyasu Abdullahi     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Mohammed Lawal     Alfa Yahaya Road     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     KWIRS     Osuwa     Guber Aspirant     Omoniyi     Playing Host     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Onilu     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     TVC Female National Debate     Abubakar Baba     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     SGBN     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Asa     Moses Rahman Popoola     Bond     Ilorin Central Mosque     UITH     Monkey Pox     Issa Baba     Makama     Al-Hikmah University     Bashir Adigun     Usman Rifun     Shoprite     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Tuesday Assayomo     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Ndakene     Sanitation Exercise     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Fatimat Saliu     IF-K     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Sola Saraki University     YAKOOYO     Ramadan     Lola Ashiru     Congress For National Consensus     Wahab Egbewole     JUSUN     Nurudeen Muhammed     Gamji Members Association     Waheed Ibrahim     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Yeketi     Alaaya     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Femi Gbajabiamila     Saka Onimago