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.

RTEAN     Roseline Oni Aremu     Zainab Abass     Jaigbade Alao     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Sidikat Akaje     Kannike     Justina Oha     James Kolo     Baba Issa Awoye     Jare Olatundun     MINILS     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Bolakale Kawu     Plat Technologies Limited     Ilorin     Sanitation Exercise     Apaola     Modupe Oluwole     Wahab Agbaje     Local Government Pension Board     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Waziri Yakubu Gobir     HICA     Ubandoma     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Durbar Festival     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Salihu Jibril Garbi     Taofik Mustapha     Kassim Babamale     Eleyele     New Naira Notes     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Issa Manzuma     Babata     Labour Party     08001000100     Yakubu Gobir     Orisun Igbomina     Salman Suleiman     Nurudeen Muhammed     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Laboratory-to-Product     Metro Park     Baba Isale     Forgo Battery     Yinka Aluko     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Kolade Solagberu     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Adijat Adebiyi     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Umar Adelodun     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Isiaka Gold     Oko     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Marafan Shonga     Asa     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Kazeem Oladepo     Prince Bola Ajibola     Gobirawa     Samuel Adaramola     Jaiz Bank     All Peoples Party     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Ibrahim Labaika     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Isiaq Khadeejah     Playing Host     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Isin    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Mohammed Halidu     Shuaib Jawondo     Salary     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Muslim Cementary     Ayo Opadokun     LAK Jimoh     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Najim Yaasin     Ilorin.Info     Kwara TV     Olaoye B. Felix     Fatai Olodo     Abdullahi Biffo     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Okin Group     Bolakale Kawu     Aliyu Sabi     Umar Ayinla Saro     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Jebba     Bola Olukoju     Ayinde Oki     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Matthew Babaoye     Saliu Ajia     Ghali Muhammed     Modupe Oluwole     Olaosebikan     Mansur Alfanla     Sadiq Umar     Yetunde Balogun     United Nigeria Congress Party     Zainab Abass     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Obuh     Aliyu Adebayo     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Mutawali     Gbugbu     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Owu Fall     Ekweremadu     Ayinke Saka     Onilorin     Yakub Lai Gobir     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Salman Alada     SSA Youth Engagement     Offa Descendants Union     Saliu Oluwole     Abdulraheem Olesin     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Zaratu Umar     Lai Mohammed     Lawal Olohungbebe     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Ariyo     Arca Santa     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Ayobami Seriki     Abatemi-Usman     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Kwara North     Kwara Hotel     MAI Akande     Dankaka     Azeez Bello     Face Masks     Mufti Of Ilorin     Wasiu Onidugbe     FERMA     Balikis Jawondo     Yomi Adeboye     Fareedah Dankaka