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| Prof. Itse Sagay |
The Federal Government is
soon to unveil an anti-corruption plan to improve inter-agency cooperation to
promote ethical re-orientation, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee
Against Corruption Prof. Itse Sagay has said.
The
Nation report continues:
Sagay,
who was the guest speaker at the Island Club Public Interest Symposium, at
Onikan, Lagos, noted that the plan would encourage citizens to believe that
integrity pays as well as demonstrate the benefits of a corrupt-free society.
He
noted that there were challenges in the fight against corruption.
“Some
of the challenges arise from the poor standard of investigation and
prosecution. Bringing a charge before assembling evidence and witnesses or the
right evidence and witnesses is sure to result in failure of that case. There
have even been cases in which investigators and prosecutors have been suspected
of being compromised to lose a case.”
He
noted that aside President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity and intolerance to
corruption, the anti-graft agencies, which had gone to sleep, have roared to
life.
According
to him, they were galvanized by the leadership and unshakable determination of
the President.
“We
are witnessing the dynamism of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) under new leadership and that of the Code of Conduct Bureau. The
Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) is
also manifesting resurgence, by the seizure of property acquired by public
servants, who could not explain how they came about them,” Sagay said.
He
said Buhari’s administration marked a turning-point in the fight against
corruption, noting that the previous administration seemed to be nodding and
winking at corruption.
The
constitutional lawyer noted that the major challenge to the anti-corruption war
comes from senior defence lawyers, who use their knowledge and experience to
frustrate prosecution of clients, by unethical methods.
He
said senior advocates, consultants and judges, who compromise trials, should be
charged, prosecuted and imprisoned, if found guilty.
“A
few cases of imprisonment of this category is necessary for honour and
integrity to return to the judicial process,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that
in the next three to four years, there would be a decline in corruption,
adding: “Nigeria will rise again.”
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