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.

Elelu     AbdulHamid Adi     Tunji Ajanaku     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Aliyu Adebayo     Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen     Iyiola Oyedepo     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Abubakar Abdulraheem     JAAC     ASUU     Erin-ile     Olupako Of Share     Olateju Lukman     Aiyedun     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Saidu Isa     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Kolawole Akande     Mutawalle     SUBEB     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Moji Makanjuola     COEASU     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     HYPPADEC     Abdullahi Biffo     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Ijagbo     Demola Banu     Baruba     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Abubakar Usman Jos     Elerin Of Adanla     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Razaq Atunwa     Tunji Folami     Shuaib Olarongbe     Monthly Sanitation     Kwarareports     Ilorin General Hospital     Harrison Osauwagboe     Segun Adeniyi     Usman Alkali Baba     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     KWASSIP     GGDSS Pakata     Eghe Igbinehin     Ilesha-Baruba     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Valsolar     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Code Of Conduct     Bola Shagaya     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Young Progressives Party     Yahaya Seriki     Gamji Members Association     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Sidikat Alaya     Ilorin Amusement Park     Olomu     Abdulwahab Ololele     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Moses Adekanye     Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade     Magaji Nda     Tanke Road     11th Galadima     Aso-ofi     Coronavirus     Abdulkadir Jimoh    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Student Learning Support Helpline     Doyin Agbamu     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Kazeem Oladepo     Wahab Agbaje     Seni Saraki     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Musibau Akanji     Ibrahim Gambari     Joseph Daudu     Ishaq Salman     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Durbar     NTA Ilorin     Usman Rifun     Titus Ashaolu     Modibbo Kawu     Kaosarah Adeyi     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Kwara State Governor     Lanre Badmas     IEDPU     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     AGF Abdulrazaq     Muhammadu Gobir     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Maigida Soludero Transit     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Bashiru Makama     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Isin     Sobi Hill     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Owo Arugbo     Afolayan     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Muritala Awodun     Olatunji Ibrahim     CCB     Sidikat Alaya     Saraki     Lithium     Oba Sulaiman Asude     Emir Of Lafiagi     Ijakadi     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Bello Abubakar     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Al-Adaby     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Lafiagi     Halimat Yusuf     Kunle Akogun     Ahmad Lawan     Kawu     Hijab     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Minimum Wage     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Bayo Onimago     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Kwasu     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Harafat E. Mukadam     Ramadan     Ilorin Like-Minds     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Simeon Ajibola     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Kwara Apc     Mope Dasuki Belgore