Anti-corruption panel on course, says Akanbi

From Isa Abdulsalami, Jos

THE Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Justice Mustapha Akanbi has declared that the commission is making progress in the area of enforcement. According to him, 15 different individuals are being tried in various high courts by some designated judges. Speaking at the Justice Dauda Azaki Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the weekend in Jos, Justice Akanbi expressed reservation in the effective execution of his tasks. He said most of the cases have been stalled as a result of indiscriminate issuance of court orders, appeals and actions filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Corruption Act and that of the commission. "Our consolation, however, lies in the fact that before the commission was set up, for almost about two decades, not a single case of corruption was filed in any high court in this country, despite the fact that it was generally known that corruption was flourishing during the period. "And this is why, following a recent survey, it was discovered that not one of the 54 designated judges assembled, had ever handled one corruption case before they were appointed." Akanbi further explained that the commission would continue to work hard to fight corruption to ensure that those who fall foul of the law are brought to book by initiating prosecution against them. "It will then be up to the courts/the judges to do their duty, hopefully, in accordance with their judicial oath. In all these matters, the role of the judiciary is crucial and vital to the success of the anti-corruption programme. For it is their judgement that will finally determine the workability of the Act and the course the commission has to tread. Nigerians are waiting and watching," he said. To the larger society, the jurist said they too also have great responsibility to do battle with corruption by lining up on the side of those who see corruption as the greatest obstacle to the country's socio-economic growth and development and good governance. Akanbi, who spoke on "Corruption as an obstacle to good governance in Nigeria," believed that the sure way of promoting transparency and good governance is to build coalition between various branches of government - "the civil society, professional bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and indeed all stakeholders." He is, however, optimistic that if all stakeholders appreciate that corruption is the bane of this society and also an obstacle to good governance, and are willing to commit themselves to wiping it out, "there will surely be windows of opportunity for our future progress and development." "Corruption is indeed the bane of our society. It has been the harbinger of the messy situation in which we found ourselves today. Our economy has been ruined. Our hopes for greater tomorrow have been dashed. Our value system is destroyed so much so that the world began to see us as men and women without honour or dignity. "Sad to say, Nigeria, which in the past, was the pride of the black race sank into the nadir of degradation in the last few decades. The devastating effect of the colossal corruption into which the country was plunged destroyed our economy and created an unstable political environment, which unfortunately made us cut a sorry picture in the eyes of the international community," he lamented. The legal luminary bemoaned the dangers posed to the nation as s result of the evils of corruption, saying that its endemic nature and its debilitating effect on the cultural, economic, social and political foundation of the society has been most harrowing and disconcerting.