Category: Corruption Watch

The Coalition against Corrupt Leaders CACOL, has lauded the National Human Right Commission, NHRC, for revealing the perpetrators behind the electoral fraud committed in the 2007 and 2011 general elections, urging the commission not to relent until the culprits are judicially brought to book.

 

This came on the heels of a report by the NHRC that indicted the former governor of Delta state, Emmanuel Uduaghan; amongst other ex-governors, the former Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu and other government agencies, political institutions and security agencies, as participants in the electoral manipulations that occasioned the 2007 and 2011 general elections. The NHRC released the report at its headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

 

Other indicted persons and institutions include former Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, a former Acting Governor of Kogi State, Clarence Obafemi, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 election in Benue State, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor.

 

Reacting to the development, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran wondered with dismay how a case of political corruption of such magnitude as revealed by the NHRC report be treated as if the acts allegedly perpetrated by the indicted individuals and agencies are of no consequence.
Adeniran said, “Political corruption itself which the revelations from the NHRC report represent is the ‘father’ of economic corruption and other forms of corruption. The corruption in our society today stemmed from political corruption and manipulations. The mould of leadership that have ‘foisted’ itself on the people for so long have all benefitted for the subsisting political corrupt background upon which they rose to leadership. And this how they have ensured that corruption dominates almost all facets of our existence.”
“With corruption having its tentacles spread to every facet of our polity and encroaching the whole system; the impunity and effrontery of characters that ‘pulled off’ such appalling crimes under our noses represent assaults on our intelligence and national psyche.”

 

“And with the very controversial ex-INEC boss, Maurice Iwu and others in play here, the revelations by NHRC validates the assertions Nigerians have always made that our electoral system is constantly manipulated. The Judiciary, INEC, and some other agencies have failed in discharging their responsibilities fittingly; the breaching of our electoral laws, when it happens is done with impunity in our country, yet the government and its agencies hardly bat any eye-lid. Cases of electoral malfeasance are hardly investigated or prosecuted, therefore culprits are not punished to serve as deterrent to other perpetrators of electoral fraud and as a result, electoral manipulations still characterize the electoral processes in our country.”

 

The anti-corruption Crusader, Mr. Adeniran in concluding called on the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami,  the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,  INEC and other relevant institutions, to swing into action on the NHRC report.

 

“Investigations must be further conducted on the findings of the Commission, prosecution of culprits must be done and severe disciplinary actions must be awarded against those found wanting after judicial process is completed. This is how we can forestall electoral misconduct in the future.”

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

August 16, 2016

 

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The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to speak out on the plethora of corruption allegations and charges against his former aides and some of his family members following the anti-corruption war embarked upon by his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Speaking through its Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran following the former President’s visit to incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at the Presidential villa, the Coalition averred that if the interest of the country was much more important to the former President than whichever interests that he probably intends to protect by his silence, the logical thing is to speak out.

 

Adeniran asked, “we wonder how helpful the position of the former President is to the efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption? Or is his position perhaps based on possible culpability in some of the exposed corruption cases? As a Statesman, a former President and a Nigerian, it should be expected of him to stand clearly without equivocation on the side of the drive against corruption which has been one of the major banes that have stunted the country’s growth and development.”

 

The immediate past President, whose regime was and is still being perceived as profoundly corrupt, was reported to have told the media after his meeting with his successor that he was not ready to comment on the various cases of corruption so far instituted against his former ministers and aides by the present administration. He was reported to have evaded the question during an interview with State House correspondents. The former President said he would only speak on the corruption cases when all the matters had been resolved in courts.

 

The leader of CACOL said, “Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was reported to have said that there are too many cases such that it will not be fair to make comments adding he will do so at the appropriate time. This we see as unpatriotic of a Statesman who had been privileged to lead to the country. It would have been Statesmanlike and commendable if the former President expressed outrage over the tons of alleged corrupt acts that were perpetrated under his watch.”

 

“This his position as a matter of fact is giving more vent and strength to the insinuations that he was directly involved in the corrupt practices that happened during his tenure. Morally, as the Chief Accounting Officer of his regime i.e. person at the desk where the final buck stopped as President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces who superintended over a regime that has been described as the most corrupt in the history of country, the ex-president should have without hesitation clarified his role/s during his rule as they relate to the allegations.  This will clearly help the anti-corruption drive and the progress of the country. His refusal to comment is disappointing and sound more like holding the country to ransom or the “catch me, if you can” attitude and amounts to putting the personal interests of a very tiny few who are incurably corrupt over the vast majority and overall National interest.” Adeniran added.

 

In concluding, the CACOL leader said, “we are advising the former President to speak out to put the interest of country above any other interest. This will be more honourable and will demonstrate his ‘innocence’, sense of patriotism, genuineness and Statesmanship at this stage when the various plagues of corruption have battered our country almost into a pulp. The former President should remember that whether he talks now or not, the fight against corruption will continue and progress to fruition. What the people do not know today, they can definitely know tomorrow and by then it will be too late and useless for him to talk considering that he would indirectly have allowed the country to expend unnecessary energy, resources and time before the truth is brought to light. ‘Whatever is done in the dark, shall come light’ as a saying goes.”

 

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,

cacol@ thehumanitycentre.org

August 4, 2016

 

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Following yet another murderous rampage by herdsmen on the Kodomun community, Adamawa state, in the North East of the country which began on Monday; the Centre for Cultural and Religious Rights, CECURR has called on the Federal government to abandon its somewhat lackadaisical and insensitive disposition toward the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians.

CECURR speaking through its National Coordinator, Mr. Debo Adeniran, called on the government to embrace pro-activeness and decisiveness to immediately put a total halt to the killings that has persistently been perpetrated by Herdsmen along the length and breadth of the country for years.

Adeniran said “a government that is sensitive enough and knows its onions will value human lives and would have been outraged by the loss of lives and property whenever herdsmen carry out their barbaric bloodletting activities even before now.”

“One would have expected that by now government would have evolved an extra-ordinary security approach to the killings similar to the ones adopted against the Boko Haram insurgents, Arepo pipeline vandals/militants, the Niger/Delta militants etc considering that the activities of herdsmen across the country is gradually assuming terroristic dimensions.”

The media had reported resumed violence involving herdsmen and villagers at Kodomun village in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State which claimed 15 lives and left many injured. Terror was said to have been unleashed on Kodomun village and some neighbouring villages on Monday at about 6p.m. when the villagers were resting after a burial of an old woman. The death toll stands at 30 at the moment according to media reports.

The National Coordinator of CECURR said “clearly, the modus operandi of these herdsmen reflects that the incessant attacks are consciously coordinated which make them go beyond the narrow confines of skirmishes. That the herdsmen carry sophisticated weapons and the incessantness of these gory occurrences also portrays an ‘army with a cause’. It appears the murderers are ahead of the government on this matter, as the herdsmen appear to operate freely without constraints and with bare-faced immunity.”

“We are therefore calling on government to dump the ‘kid gloves’ attitude towards the bloodletting activities of herdsmen. A look at the pattern of their operations reveals that the attacks cannot be treated in isolation as they cut across the country giving it a very bold outlook of a ‘nests of killers’ conjoined and working in a network. Theoretically, there is the dire need to interrogate and deconstruct the background to these tragic incidences which have remained incessant and apparently undying so as to be able to identify the immediate and remote causes. This is what will help in finding solutions to the trend of senseless killings by herdsmen.”

“The government must not wait for these incidences to occur before acting as it is already a ‘phenomenon’; anticipatory intelligence work must be on the top plate given that the groups involved in these killings and their locations are identifiable. This will make areas that are potentially prone to the violence to be isolated for preemptive security arrangements to forestall the further senseless killings.”

The leader of CECURR challenged the government be proactive in carrying out its responsibility as a government. “One of the most fundamental reasons governments are instituted in the first place is the protection of lives and property and to ensure the social well being of the citizenry as enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution. Where lives and property are being senselessly lost on such large scale as we have in this country can only mean one thing, and that is – the failure of government and governance! The time to act is overdue!”

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CECURR

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

August 3, 2016

 

 For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

 

 

The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has reiterated the Coalition’s call for diligent investigations and circumspection in handling the revelations from the allegations of Budget padding in the Federal House of Representatives.

Sequel to the ‘can of worms’ opened with the allegations being traded publiclybetween the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. YakubuDogara and the former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Mr. AbdulmuminJibrin, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has recommended a comprehensive probe into the saga. The Coalition also said that the probe should include the three other principal officers mentioned in the matter.

“The allegations are too grievous which makes the imperative need for thorough investigations inevitable; andanyone be found guilty of violating laid-down rules, procedures and the Constitution, should be prosecuted.” Mr.
DeboAdeniran, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, stated unequivocally while responding to the allegations and counter-allegations over budget padding in the House of Representatives, HOR.

“With what we are witnessing in theunfolding exposé, it is clear that the issue is of serious National importance given that the National Budget is at the very heart of the imbroglio. At this stage, where even the leadership of the HOR appears convinced that the exposé require investigation, the logical thing is to subject the matter to judicial process from investigation, prosecution if need be and application of punitive where culpability is established.”

“The conviction of the HOR has reportedly been demonstrated through thedecisionof the leadership under scrutiny to invite the ICPC that is saddled with the task of dealing with issues of official corruption and related offences; and if appropriate and necessary, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant anti-graft agencies to look into the matterincluding allegations that Jibrin abused his office between 2011 and 2015 when he was the Chairman, Committee on Finance.”

”Our findings from Media reports also reveal that a group within the HOR named Transparency Group, which claim to have to collectedabout 113 signatures from lawmakers from the six geopolitical zones and across party lines is alsocalling for an external investigation into the matter.”

Adenirancontinued,saying “it is therefore clear from the division in the HOR over the padding saga that the matter cannot be reduced to one which the House can handle internally. We have always called for circumspection, thorough investigations, diligent prosecutions and regard for the rule of law when situations like this arise and that is where we stand on this matter too.”

“But the episode itself has also thrown up a major question which would raise other questions that probably only the investigations of the case will provide answers for. And the main question is – what really does ‘budget padding’ mean? Is ‘budget padding’ the bloating of the budget in terms of inflating the value of projects? Is ‘budget padding’ the addition, duplication, replication or repetition of projects to the budget into, within or outside the Appropriation Bill submitted by the Executive to the House?” The CACOL Leader asked.

“The situation remains foggy and only those involved can explain to Nigerians what actually transpired. The truth is that ‘budget padding’ recently crept into Nigerian lexicon with the first Budget of the current regime; previously it was simple enough to understand when the lingua was ‘budget inflation’ making the whole picture appear like a conscious effort to confuse Nigerians to achieve the perpetration of sharp practices.” 

“The bickering among the lawmakers should be seen in a positive light by all Nigeriansbecause it is a good omen when leaders of that sort begin to expose each otheras it usually reveals the truth in the end. It is only each of the two tortoises that know how to bite one another. All we know is that they have not been performing the functions that we sent them to perform.”

To avert occurrences like the present one in future, Adenirancalled for a review of the laws that govern the funding of the National Assembly to vest more power in the Accountant General and the Auditor General of the Federation to monitor financial flow to the lawmakers in order to make it even more difficult for the them to access money from public coffers.
“The Accountant General and Auditor General should begin to playsupervisory roles about how theythe NASS get funded. Even if they pad the budget, they won’t be able to escape the prying eyes of the Accountant General and the Auditor General of the Federation.” He said concluded.

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com, cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

July 29, 2016

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has told Nigerians bluntly, to put a halt on accusing and finger-pointing his Ministers and other top government officials of corruption without evidence, and that Nigerians should ignore orchestrated attempts to discredit them as recently reported widely by the media.

The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, in his reaction to the President’s statement found the position curious and contradictory to the anti-corruption principle of the present regime. He asked “how certain is the President that some of his appointed Ministers are not just incompetent but are also corrupt?”

According to the anti-corruption Crusader, “the President’s defence contradicts all the petitions sent by CACOL and other civil society organizations (CSO) to the anti-corruption agencies and the President regarding corruption issues which indicted some of the Cabinet members. It also contradicts the anti-corruption war his administration appears to be fighting so vigorously. The President’s take sounded more like ‘touch not my anointed’ as a matter of fact!”

Continuing he said “with the atmosphere the anti-corruption drive of the present regime is trying to create, it would be expected that common sense and knowledge should ordinarily make public officials, particularly politically appointed public officials to conform to basic standards and best practices; that is accountability and transparency in public administration rather than opt for the ‘prove it’ option whenever the searchlight of anti-corruption is beamed on them.”

“The President’s take rather than kill the suspicions of the majority has only exacerbated them. When the first line of defense an indicted, suspected or accused person or group tows, is the line of ‘provide proof/evidence’ without attempting to smash the allegations via transparency and accountability beyond reasonable doubts which is an easier and less labourious option, then ‘aspersions’ and ‘conspiracy theories’ will continue to fly.”  

The CACOL Leader added that the President’s position is throwing up the old question of whom the onus of proof should lie upon between an accused and an accuser. “But in spite of our recognizing that there may be frivolous accusations which could be the basis for the President’s opinion, we still feel every accusation should be treated as ‘possible truth’ until it’s 100% proved to be baseless. There can be no half-measures if we desire to kill corruption in our country, Nigerians can no longer take the words of public officials as credible given the past and present experiences they have been and still being made to sadly go through.”

“Consequently, we believe the onus of proof should lie on the accused particularly where it concerns public officials like Ministers. We advise that the President should not to vouch for any public official as he is not competent to do so. Even the President came to a realization that frustrated him to admit publicly that the Judiciary sector is a headache in the anti-corruption war and predicated his claim on corrupt tendencies in the sector! Added to this is that the President has had to relieve some public officials of their positions based on suspected or actual sharp practices.”

“It is therefore uncalled for and contradictory for the President to ‘blanketly’ award the badge of inculpability in corrupt practices on his Cabinet members. Accused public officials should lawfully clear themselves of allegations that are not true. And knowing that within the ambit of our laws, there are provisions for punitive for persons who make frivolous allegations should be enough to not wield extra-constitutional powers to gag Nigerians.” Adeniran averred

In concluding, the CACOL Leader said “to win the war against corruption will require us, as individuals and as a country not to spare the rod, so as not to spoil the child. Corruption cannot be killed with kid’s glove. It is a situation where conscious eternal vigilance must be kept all the time without letting down the guard regardless of who is involved. The law after all says every accused person is deemed to be innocent until proven judicially to be guilty, so suspects or accused persons need not to get jittery given that they are protected by the law as long as they are proven to be innocent. Let there be transparency and accountability in governance, which is what will enlist the trust and confidence of the people.”

 

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

08141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

July 22, 2016 

 

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

 

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, through its Executive Chairman Mr. Debo Adeniran has called for the immediate investigations into the claims of the new Acting Inspector General of Police, I.G, of the Nigeria Police that his predecessor, Mr. Solomon Arase carted away with him as many as 24 vehicles belonging the Police when exited office as I.G.
Mr. Adeniran expressed shock over the reports in the media that the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, claims that Mr. Solomon Arase, the immediate past I.G of Police carted away 24 police vehicles when he exited office as I.G, and that 7 Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, D.I.Gs who were also retired at the same time made away with between seven and eight cars each.
He said, “this revelation is once again manifesting how profoundly seated the virus of corruption have eaten into the fabrics of our polity as a country. How do we explain a situation where the ‘hunter’ chooses to get involved with the ‘hunted’? That the custodian of the apex echelon of the Nigeria Police in terms hierarchy is involved or suspected to be involved in the physical carting away of government properties is scary, disgusting, embarrassing, uninspiring and absolutely condemnable!”
The acting I.G, who revealed to the media in an interview with journalists, also informed that a special investigation team was already looking at the records of police vehicle purchases in the last three years.
“Although, we aware according to media report, that the former I.G has reportedly denied the claim of his successor describing the allegations as a malicious propaganda, we think the allegations should still be investigated all the same. The claims and counter-claims should not be handled with levity because if the allegations were found be true, then, it means the country must have to rethink, review and rework of its anti-corruption drive with a view of magnifying the activities of supposed upholders of the laws and enforcement. If the enforcers of the laws at the topmost level are involved in sharp practices, the hope of cleansing the polity of corruption becomes unrealistic as ‘coming to equity’ requires coming with clean hands, tackling crimes requires the ‘tacklers’ living and acting above board as far as combating crimes is concerned.” Adeniran insisted.
“Our insistence on a thorough probe of the episode is predicated on the imperativeness of ensuring that those entrusted with combating crimes are not also criminals and because the immediate past I.G appeared to have left office with a public image which majority of Nigerians perceived as ‘clean’ and without blemish.” The anti-corruption Crusader added
“The investigations must also include the D.I.Gs indicted by the acting I.G in his revelation; the special investigation panel said to have been set up must do a diligent job including revealing to the public the official privileges and entitlements of retiring police officers. That is how Nigerians can identify what is propaganda and what is real.” Adeniran averred.
In concluding, the CACOL leader said “we also support the move of the new acting I.G to through the Police Management Team probe the last promotion exercise in the Force following the complaints by many police personnel that their juniors were promoted over them. The Police of any country is usually conventionally considered as a reflection of the kind of country the country is, with the much touted anti-corruption stance of the present government, if Arase is found to complicit in a crime, it will be contradictory to the zero tolerance to corruption policy of the government. In fact, given that the President himself celebrated his tenure as evidenced in the valedictory dinner he held in Arase’s honour upon his exit as I.G leaves a disgusting and bitter taste on our tongues as Nigerians.”

Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
wale@thehumanitycentre.org
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org
July 18, 2016

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org