When EFCC and ICPC praise Shekarau
By Salihu Othman Isah
(gamagashi@gmail.com)
ON Tuesday, December 12, last year, the third International Anti-Corruption day was marked in Kano. However, the original day set aside for the occasion by the United Nations Committee on Anti-Corruption (UNCAC) in conjunction with the globally active Transparency International (TI) whose brain-child it is, is December 9 of every year. So, Kano state effectively joined the global coalition to mark the fight against corruption and corrupt tendencies.
To narrow down from global conventions and coalitions, the African Union (AU) Convention Against Corruption in which Nigeria is a principal signatory and facilitator also suffices on why the day should not be allowed to go uncelebrated. Little wonder, President Olusegun Obasanjo is so passionate on eradicating corruption from the fabrics of the Nigerian society using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and sundry relevant agencies imploring global methods to counter the scourge.
As a public commentator on issues of corruption, what galvanized this piece is the fact that of all the 36 states in the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja which is accorded the status of a state in some instances, only Kano observed the day, at least with some level of seriousness. This position was reached going by close monitoring of the Nigerian and global media, as no state nor the FCT have been reported to have marked the day except Kano as at the time of writing this piece weeks later.
It was not then surprising when the EFCC and ICPC in their separate papers presented at the occasion organized by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Directorate (PCACD) under the able leadership of the indefatigable director-general, Alhaji Aminu Inuwa Muhammad thumped up the Kano state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau for his resilience in combating corruption and leading a corrupt-free life-style.
And suffice that the mere fact that the leading anti-graft institutions in Nigeria did not only physically delivered their separate papers, but went beyond it to commend Governor Shekarau, is a manifestation of the fact that he has lived up to his billing to supervise the state based on transparency, accountability and good governance which is one of the pillars on which his administration is built.
At the occasion held at the Centre for Democratic Research, Training and Documentation of the Bayero University, Kano (Mambayya House), three incisive papers were presented. As expected at such gathering, the DG of the Kano anti-graft directorate, Alhaji Aminu Inuwa Muhammad delivered the opening remark. Indeed, it set the pace for what was to follow with the other presentations. This is so because he gave startling as well as interesting revelations of the activities and grounds covered by his agency.
According to him, since the advent of the Shekarau administration, the governor had made it significantly clear that the fight against corruption is going to be total since he has made it one of the cardinal principles of his government. The PCACD boss surmised that this particular principle “goes with the promotion of transparency and accountability, commitment and genuine dedication to work, putting a stop to human right abuses and institutionalizing of checks and balances in government”.
Inuwa Muhammad went on to reveal that his directorate had risen to the challenge posed to it by His Excellency ever since it came on board. He told the August gathering which included top politicians, traditional rulers, captains of industry, the academia, students; even the downtrodden were not left out and the media as well that “we have received 667 complaints/petitions, 385 complaints are of general nature, 143 complaints on human rights abuses and 140 petitions on allegation of corruption and fraud,” noting that most of the cases have been investigated.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the sum of about ten million Naira have so far been recovered from organizations and agencies which ostensibly, were corrupt earnings while adding that some offenders would soon be visited with the full wrath of the law. He equally assured that since it began operation about two years ago, the directorate has tried its best to discharge its functions within the ambit of the laws of the land.
Besides, “ Kano state government was represented at the International Conference of Anti-Corruption Agencies held in Beijing , China , which was attended by more than 120 countries and 30 Non-Governmental Organizations. It is worthy to mention that, Kano state was the only state in the federation that participated in the conference. This was made possible through the unflinching support of our activities by government,” he expressed with some measure of gratitude to the governor who was however represented at the occasion.
Little wonder Governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s dogged effort at stemming corruption and corrupt practices has not gone unnoticed at relevant quarters. For instance, as mentioned earlier, the ICPC chairman, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, in his paper titled, ‘Corruption and Governance in Nigeria ’ delivered on his behalf by Mr. Abbia Udofia, the Commission’s Chief Legal Officer, counseled other states to follow the Kano footstep.
Said Justice Ayoola, “Permit me to commend His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state , Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and his Council for the laudable initiative of establishing the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Directorate for the state. We are ready to work with you in the crucial assignment to rid our nation of corruption and related offences. Let me enjoin other states to emulate this laudable initiative and establish integrity departments to ensure accountability and transparency of government business and public officers,” he solicited.
The ICPC boss equally reasoned that the fight against corruption is not an exclusive preserve of President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Federal Government, adding that since its devastating effects weigh down every Nigerian, no matter the tribe or religion, every country man and woman should brace up and enlist in the crusade irrespective of levels and organs of government. In addition, he promised the Commission’s partnership with states which shows interest and are reputed for transparency, saying that the agency was conversely beaming its searchlight with a view to monitoring states and departments that are infamous for bad leadership, avarice and lack of development.
On his part, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu whose paper dwelled on ‘Corruption and Election Process in Nigeria: The Role of EFCC and ICPC’, observed that corruption is a major problem confronting the people in transiting economies like Nigeria, adding that the legitimacy of authorities in power is compromised by widespread incidences of corruption in public and private spheres.
Ribadu who was represented by the head of the Kano office of the anti-graft body, Abdullahi Kasim Maina, however noted that though corruption is not peculiar to our nation alone, that one cannot but imagine the impact and multiplier effect of allowing corrupt elements hold political offices.
He further pointed out that the issue of executive immunity also contributes to the fight/struggling for executive power, adding that while some people still support its continuous entrenchment in our system, others believe that the doctrine of sovereign immunity belongs to the antiquity since it has overstayed its usefulness.
Said the EFCC chairman, “This doctrine is founded on the anachronistic legal principle of rex non potest peccare (the King can do no wrong). However, today we find people with executive powers behaving contrary to the decorum of the office they occupy,” he posited.
Ribadu therefore maintained that “the screening of politicians by EFCC and ICPC is not an aberration. The essence is to prevent dubious people that have committed one crime or the other from emerging as our rulers”.
Also speaking, Dr. Salisu Shehu of the department of Education, Bayero University, Kano whose paper was entitled, ‘The Fight Against Corruption and Fraud: An Islamic Perspective’, said the Islamic religion does not approve of fraud in all its forms and dimensions. Shehu revealed that it is totally condemned and has been categorized under grave sins in Islam. According to him, these are sins that have been greatly abhorred and the perpetrators have been condemned as wicked miscreants.
Dr, Salisu Shehu again expressed that, “the most hateful form of fraud in Islam is that committed in public office or responsibility or any level of leadership. In Islam public responsibility and leadership are a trust. Whatever position a person holds is clearly stated in the Hadith of Abu Dharr al-Ghifari wherein the Prophet (S.A.W) tells him that, “it is a trust”. He will be called on the Day of Judgement to account for his actions and stewardship while holding that particular post….”
To go down further to the basics, Islam explains looting in public treasury or trust to be any form of accumulation from the public treasury of property however little it may be which the religion abhors and condemns; even if it were from war booty before its distribution, whatever is taken is a fraud. According to the university don, the Prophet (S.A.W) says in this regard, that, “Whatever we assign to a public worker and conceals (take away) a needle or something above it is fraud (ghulul) and shall definitely come with it on the Day of Judgment” as (Reported by Muslim).
This writer notes that this fear of the Hereafter may be the driving spirit why Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has ensured probity and accountability as his guiding principle since as Islam posits; he must avoid illegal dealings and acquisitions while holding position of responsibility in trust for the people for which he gets paid stipend/salary. But are his counterparts this conscious? I will just imagine that your guess is as good as mine.
Isah, a journalist and public commentator on anti-corruption issues, posted this peace on Amanaonline.com.