…says Proud to leave behind a legacy of fighting corruption
Gift Wada
President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the establishment of an international anti-corruption criminal court to boost the fight against corruption in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
Buhari made this call, while delivering his speech virtually at a national dialogue to mark the 6th African Union (AU) Day of Anti-corruption with the theme “Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of Covid-19 Funds” organized by the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) and other agencies in Abuja on Wednesday.
While noting that the fight against corruption has suffered some setbacks in the continent, Buhari said an international anti-corruption criminal court will be needed to strengthen the judiciary’s role in tackling corruption.
The president stated that more work still needs to be done on many fronts to curb the menace. He said, “We have come a long way in the fight against corruption in Nigeria and Africa in general. Corruption is an evil and all efforts at tackling it are desirable. I have monitored the fight against corruption in Africa, and I can see both successes and setbacks, the fight must be continued for the sake of the continent and its people no matter the difficulties.”
“Fellow African leaders, We must get rid of corruption in Africa, so that the continent can realise its full potentials. Africa has to ensure that its natural resources are not taken to safe havens around the world and we must curtail illicit financial flows in all its forms. Also, we must work collectively to recover all resources taken abroad, we must show looters that crime does not pay by depriving them of the proceeds of their crime,” the president urged.
Buhari, further said that in Nigeria, the fight against has been rigorous since 2015 , saying a lot has been achieved in the areas of arrest, prosecution, conviction, asset recovery and anti corruption laws.
The president boasted that he is leaving a legacy of fighting corruption in Nigeria and expressed his appreciation to the anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies for their “sacrifices “.
“As I am leaving office next year, I am proud to leave behind a legacy of fighting corruption in tandem with other African government. Personally, I will render my best in or out of office to get rid of corruption in Nigeria and Africa in general . I urge our youths to join me in this noble cause. My fellow African leaders, let us work together to get rid of corruption in Africa, it gives our citizens a better life,” the president said.
Itse Sagay, Chairman, PACAC, in his address said Nigeria, being the most populous country and economy in Africa has a great stake in the implementation of the African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption.
The chairman, who was represented by Etannibi Alemika, member, PACAC, while noting that COVID-19 is still lurking around, explained that the theme is intended to provide retrospective and prospective reflection on ghe management of funds to control the virus.
The chairman pointed out that corruption undermines accountability and transparency in the management of punlic affairs as well as socioeconomic development of the countries on the continent. The annual commemoration the the AU anti-corruption day, according to him, is to crate awareness, commitment and collaboration around the objectives of the AU convention in order to realise its goals.
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation who delivered the keynote speech, assured that the Nigerian govenrnent is not resting on its oars in implementing and developing more strategies and mechanism to promote transparency and accountable in the management of funds earmarked to enhance post COVID-19 recovery.
“You will all agree with me that on of the agenda of the present Administration is its unflinching stand against corruption and its anti-corruption crusade through various policy measures already being implemented to stem the tide of corrupt practices in the Public Sector.
“These measures are already remarkable results but not enough to rest our oars. It is my hope that this dialogue will come up with improved and sustainable strategies and present us the opportunity to reassess and improve the effectiveness of strategies in place, as well as develop new ones to bolster our common resolve to fight corruption,” Mustapha who was represented by Maurice Mbaeri, the Permanent Secretary, General Services office OSGF.
The national dialogue is organised in collaboration with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other members of the Interagency Task Team IATT.
The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) which was adopted on 11th of July, 2003.
