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.

Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Quareeb Islamic Association     Aso-ofi     Adijat Adebiyi     Abdulhakeem Amao     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Ashiru     Magaji Erubu     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Tunde Kazeem     Saliu Ajia     Rueben Parejo     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Peter Amogbonjaye     Shonga Farm Project     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Kwara Hotel     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Abdulkareem Alabi     Sola Saraki University     Sulu Gambari     Budo Egba     David Adesina     Okedare     Gobir Organization Foundation     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Dorcas Afeniforo     Madawaki     Bursary     Village Alive Development Association     CLAY POT     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Surajudeen Akanbi     Afetu Of Alabe     Muhammed Danjuma     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Yekini Adio     Jelili Yusuf     Seni Saraki     Oke-Ero     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Oro Grammar School     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Ahmad Uthman     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     ER-KANG Mining     Yinka Aluko     Oko     Afonja Descendants Union     Photo News     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Smart School     Wahab Abayawo     Yakubu Dogara     Idris Garba     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Lanwa     Jalala     Ojuekun     Salaudeen Oyewale     SUBEB     Kale Belgore     Aliyu U. Tilde     Ahmad Belgore     NNPP     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Wahab Issa     Twitter     Idowu Laro     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Kwara South     Omu-aran     Senate Presidency     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Olaitan Buraimoh     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Wahab Kunle Shittu     LAK Jimoh     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Ilorin Curfew     Ejidongari     Summit University     Bola Shagaya     Moses Salami     Mashood Dauda     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Grillo     Firdaos Amasa     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Patigi Regatta     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Unilorin FM     Kolawole Bashirat     IYA ALFA NLA     Bio Ibrahim     Aminat Ahmed     Erin-ile     Erubu Oba Zubair     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Ballah     Oyin-Zubair     GRA     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Yeketi     Rotimi Oyedepo     S.O. Opowoye     Toyin Abdullahi     General Hospital, Offa     Shururat Olatinwo     Turaki Of Ilorin     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Agbarigidoma     Kayode Ishola     Saadu Alanamu     Abdullahi Samari     Abraysports FC     Budo-Egba     Ndama Al-hassan     Otoge     Oja-Oba     Kayode Bankole     Mahe Abdulkadir     HYPPADEC     Durosinlohun Kawu     Salihu Jibril Garbi     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Baboko     TVC Female National Debate     Rasheed Jimoh     Sidikat Akaje     Yunus Lawal     Old Oyo     Tunji Folami     Igbomina     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Ladi Hassan     Oloyede     Talaka Parapo     Offa Grammer School     Split Diamond Interchange     Www.Kwarareports.com     Ileloke     Aliyu Muhammed     Tosho Yaqub