By Hon Osaro-Onaiwu Jnr.
Corruption Rank in Nigeria averaged 125.67 from 1996 until 2022, reaching an all time high of 154.00 in 2021 and a record low of 52.00 in 1997. These high numbers probably led to Buhari Adminstration, appointing a young dynamic man to chair Nigeria’s top economic crime fighting agency.
We when speak, we speak based on numbers, the records are there. EFCC can’t jail or sentence a suspect to prison, they gather information, investigate and prosecute. The numbers of prosecution by the EFCC is alarming. This was a country that was tagged as “Fantastically Corrupt”.
No doubt when you fight Corruption, it will fight back. As an advocate for peace and conflict resolution, there’s been a significant improvement in fighting financial crime. We must commend the EFCC for the work so far. Yes, they are elements that will often hinder the progress of fighting crime, it is important we do not lose sight of the progress that has been achieved.
We also advise the EFCC to increase it’s man power to investigate and prosecute financial fraud commited by politicians and not just cyber fraud.
However, some of the laws put in place to fight financial fraud often affect the processes and incur huge financial debt to the prosecutor, most times a plea bargain is beneficial to both parties.
Moreover, fighting corruption doesn’t end with the EFCC. Its the right of every citizen to report a crime about to happen, happening or happened.
We must be aware that there are certain politicians who know their immunity from prosecution will soon run out as their tenure is about to elapse, so they cry wolf and lay accusation on those equipped to fight crime. ‘Let those in glass houses not throw stones”.
There’s obviously a psychological game to create a narrative of smearing the image of the agency so it will lose its integrity. Let’s not forget that Nigerian resources belongs to all Nigerians not a few, I charge the EFCC Chairman to continue in his assignment in reducing our corruption index, and making Nigeria Great Again..
Osaro-Onaiwu Jnr.
Director JOO foundation and Conflict Solution Advocacy.
