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.

Sarkin Malamai     Bolakale Saka     Sunday Otokiti     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Igbomina     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Millennium Development Goals     Yahaya Muhammad     Saheed Popoola     Transition Implementation Committee     Ahmad Belgore     Aisha Ahman Pategi     ASUU     Police Commissioner     Ilorin Airport     Mohammed Lawal     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Elesie Of Esie     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     Kulende     Boko Haram     Bilikisu Gambari     Oro Grammar School     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Okala Baba     Edret Sabi Abel     Henry Olaosebikan     Nurudeen Muhammed     Dele Momodu     April 11     FOMWAN     IFK     Olaosebikan     Yakubu Dogara     Elerin Of Adanla     Abdulkareem Alabi     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Kayode Ishola     Dan Masanin     Kawu Baraje     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Quareeb Islamic Association     Oyawoye     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Yaman     Biliaminu Aliu     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Irepodun     Ubandawaki     Abubakar Imam     Aliyu Umar     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Olupako Of Share     Gobir     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Smart School     Kwara Politics     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Sulyman Buhari     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Rebecca Bake     Niyi Ogundiran     New Model Police Station     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Sabo-Oke     Orisun Igbomina     CCT     KWASIEC     Sadiq Buhari     Fatimat Saliu     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Adedeji Onimago    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Issa Manzuma     Okiki     Islamiya Abdulraheem     JAAC     KwaraLearn     Femi Gbajabiamila     Abdulrasaq Alaro     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Joseph Offorjama     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Orisa Bridge     Park     NNPP     Ojo Fadumila     Irepodun     Adeola Abraham     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Kwabes     Kwara Volleyball Association     Oloye     Orisun Igbomina     Baba Issa     Oyawoye     Mutawali     Kwara State Sports Commission     Trader Moni     JMK Construction Company Limited     SSA Youth     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Imam Gambari     TETFUND     Oniyangi     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Boko Haram     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Sulu Gambari     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Kwara NIPR     Aliyu Alhassan     Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa     Titus Ashaolu     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     College Of Education     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     SWAN     Segun Ogunsola     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Yakubu Gobir     Omu Aran     Olawuyi     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Alfa Belgore     Tunji Arosanyin     Owo Arugbo     Suleman Abubakar     Shonga Farm Project     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Ilorin Innovation Hub     CT Ayeni     Solomon Edojah     Kwarareports     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     National Information Technology Development Agency     Alapado     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     NAWOJ     Mohammed Abdulahi     Bayo Onimago     Aliyu U. Tilde     Okedare     Ajayi Okasanmi     BECE     National Pilot     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Kulende-UITH     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Bankole Omishore