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.

Shola Odetundun     NIPR     Adekunle David Dunmade     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Mumeen Lah     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Eleyele     SSUCOEN     Kulende-UITH     Ibrahim Taiwo     Hakeem Idris     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Kwara State Government     Babajide Ajayi     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Islamic Development Bank     Timothy Akangbe     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Osi     BECE     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Baboko     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Quareeb     Radio SBS     Photo News     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Ubandawaki     Okedare     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Risikat Lawal     Saadu Yusuf     Kulende     Danladi     Adamu Atta     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Babata     Akanji     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Bisi Kristien     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Idowu Aremu     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Emmanuel Bello     Magaji Nda     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Just Law Forum     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Imam Gambari     Laolu Saraki     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Ajase-Ipo     Fatimoh Lawal     Abraysports FC     TIC     Shururat Olatinwo     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Abdullahi Atanda     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Local Government     IDPU     Funmi Salau     Jide Oyinloye     Moses Salami     John Obuh     Dauda Adesola     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Umar Saro     Belgore     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Nurudeen Mohammed     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Eruku    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Ilesha-Gwanara     Fareedah Dankaka     Lukman Adeloyin     Moses Adekanye     Sam Okaula     Abiodun Oyedepo     COEASU     Kolawole Akande     Labour Party     Dumagi     Baba Isale     Haliru Dantoro     Aliyu Umar     Sobi FM     Saadu Alanamu     AGILE Programme     Suleiman Mora Omar     Oko     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Oniyangi     Solomon Edojah     Yusuf Arowosaye     Niyi Ogundiran     Saliu Mustapha     Oke-Odo     Ilorin Like-Minds     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Halidu Danbaba     Saka Keji     Mary Arinde     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Umar Saro     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Prince Bola Ajibola     Shaaba Lafiagi     Saka Asiat Ayinke     CT Ayeni     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Na\'Allah     Suleiman Ajadi     Mustapha Akanbi     Communication Network Support Services     Yusuf Lawal     Aso-ofi     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Yaru     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Kwara TV     Ojo Fadumila     Akeem Olatunji     Olatomiwa Williams     Gbenga Olawepo     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Mohammed Danjuma     David Adesina     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     NSCIA     Saduki Lafiagi     Muhammed Abdullahi     Ashiru     Lai Mohammed     Sabi     Neo Mundo Ltd     Ijagbo     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Dauda Adesola     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Ibrahim Mashood     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Yahaya Dumoye     Aminat Ahmed     JUSUN     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Falokun-Oja     Shero