By Daniel Kanu (Assistant Politics Editor)
*Urges FG to take bolder anti-corruption steps
A Non-governmental Organisation, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) on Tuesday said the sacking of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, by President Muhammadu Buhari was belated and also not enough punishment for the crime committed.
The group therefore asked the Federal Government “to go the hog and prosecute the duo.”
In a statement released in Abuja by Rev David Ugolor, ANEEJ Executive Director, the group said “President Buhari should take one more step and make sure that persons involved in such acts are not only sacked, but arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to spoil the anti-corruption efforts of his administration.”
The statement read in part:
“To end impunity, Mr. President should support the Anti-Corruption Agencies to ensure all stolen monies are recovered from both Lawal and Oke. This case underscores the urgent need for the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill to perfect the process of recovering assets from politically exposed persons.
“ANEEJ believes that a mere sack is a slap on the wrist and a soft landing for individuals who have used public instruments and institutions to feather their nests to the detriment of the interests of the Nigerian public.
“A mere sack without prosecution could set a dangerous precedence and encourage others to defraud the state and eventually proceed on retirement to enjoy the proceeds of their criminal behavior. We urge Mr. President to publish the White papers from both the Vice President and the AG so as to institutionalize the processes of ending political corruption. For the prosecution, the anti-corruption agencies should be allowed to use the report to embark on proper prosecution of both Lawal and Oke.”
Rev Ugolor said if the Federal Government can vigorously pursue the prosecution of the dismissed officials, “It would inject a good dose of confidence in the fight against corruption, and convince Nigerians that the Buhari administration is committed to reducing corruption to its barest minimum. The prosecution of both Lawal and Oke will send the right signal to the international community that President Buhari is ready to tackle Corruption in all ramifications.”
