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.

Saliu Mustapha     Bolaji Abdullahi     Saliu Oluwole     Federal Allocation     Issa Oloruntogun     Saliu Tunde Bello     Okasanmi Ajayi     Okin Malt     Ibrahim Gambari     Saka Saadu     Hamid Bobboyi     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Sanusi Abubakar     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Ayedun     Saba Mamman Daniel     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Kola Adesina     Alanamu     Oba Abu     NNPP     Al-Hikmah Radio     Azeez Salawu     Opobiyi     Onilorin     Ilorin Central Mosque     Amos Bajeh     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Wahab Egbewole     Alaaya     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Bayo Ojo     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Charles Ibitoye     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Iqra Books     Hauwa Nuru     Seun Bolaji     Zara Umar     Ajikobi     Democracy Day     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Saka Aleshinloye     Ajibike Katibi     Ayodele Olaosebikan     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     Ilorin Durbar     Cassava Growers\' Association     Bamidele Adegoke     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Kamoru Kadiri     Gbugbu     Alfa Belgore     Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Oyelere Oyinloye     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Bello Oyebanji     Esuwoye     Bukola Saraki     Mutawali Of Ilorin     FOMWAN     Ajidagba     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Illyasu Abdullahi     Musa Aibinu     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Nigeria Computer Society     Kayode Oyin-Zubair     Alfa Yahaya Road     Ilorin General Hospital     Ridwan Agboola     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Wahab Abayawo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Yahaya Dumoye     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Joseph Offorjama     ENetSuD     Guber Aspirant     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Ilorin Emirate     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Saliu Tunde Bello     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Erubu     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Isin     Aliyu Salihu     Abiodun Oyedepo     Cornelius Adebayo     Ahmed \'Lateef     Ilorin     Osinbajo     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Durosinlohun Kawu     IsDB     Eghe Igbinehin     Kwara State Government     Mohammed Lawal     Raymond Olaitan     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Femi Ogunsola     Isiaka Gold     COVID-19 Palliatives     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Allocation     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Ohoro Of Shao     Sardauna     Segun Olawoyin     Olaitan Adefila     Admiralty Villa     KWASAA     Lawyers Unite Against Corruption     YAKOOYO     Ramat Oganija     Hussein Olokooba     Abdulfatah Ahmed     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Simon Sayomi     Yomi Ogunsola     Toyin Saraki     Taofeeq Olateju     Vasolar     Ope Saraki     Sulyman Tejidini     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Jelili Yusuf     Muslim Cementary     Azeez Salawu     Baba Idris     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Buari Edun     Kubra Kazum     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Gani Saadu     Saheed Popoola     Sheikh Ariyibi     V.O. Abioye     Busari Alabi Alausa     Ahmad Belgore     Tunde Akanbi     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     JMK Construction Company Limited     JUSUN     Muhammed Abdullahi     Yakubu Gobir