Nigerians have called for the strengthening of anti-corruption agencies, by ensuring their independence to enable them tackle rising cases of high profile corruption cases in the country.
They said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should be allowed to function without political interference.
The EFCC is charged with enforcing laws on money laundering and other financial crimes while the ICPC is focused on tackling corruption in the public service.
They spoke in interviews while assessing the performance of the two anti-graft agencies.
According to them, though the anti-corruption agencies have performed relatively well, it was important to enhance their capacities in line with global best practices.
Some of the respondents said apart from making the agencies completely independent, it was important for them to be funded adequately. They also canvassed for special courts to adjudicate corruption cases within specific time limits.
Martin Idachaba, a lecturer in the Department of Law, Kogi State University, Ayingba, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade had so far recorded some achievements.
He said that there was a massive recovery of looted funds, blockage of treasury leakages through the Treasury Single Account and imprisonment of some corrupt public officers, including former governors.
He, however, alleged that politicisation of the anti-corruption fight and failure to investigate accusations involving politically exposed persons had cast doubt on the anti-corruption fight.
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Idachaba added that weak internal controls in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), have encouraged corrupt practices in the civil service.
According to him, there is still financial recklessness, abuse of budgetary processes, and non-compliance with the due process of appropriation in the MDAs.
“The systemic corruption in the Nigeria Police Force which continues unabated, high profile convictions of politically exposed persons across political, regional and any other form of the divide have fallen short of public expectations.
“Why the anti-corruption crusade has not delivered much result is because of government failure to leave the fight against corruption to independent institutions.
“This is because the independence of these agencies is more theoretical than in practice. If it is in practice, it will separate genuine anti-corruption cases from politics,” he said.
Idachaba, therefore, recommended that mechanism be put in place to reduce opportunities for corruption.
He added that government should deploy more technology to reduce direct contact, where possible, between government officials and the public, to discourage bribery and corruption.
The lecturer added that the fight against corruption requires strong institutions that must be free from undue executive, legislative and judicial interference.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission needs more teeth, a starting point will be to increase its budget.
“This will go a long way in enabling the commission hire more personnel.
“It must also be freed from political interference to allow it to fight corruption without fear or favour because of the role played by politically exposed persons in corruption,” he said.
Idachaba emphasised the need for the judiciary to speed up the delivery of judgment in corruption cases. He said that it was imperative for judges to stop giving teeth to corruption through undue adjournments of corruption cases.
Idachaba said like election matters, there should be a timeline for the determination of corruption cases, saying the current situation of delaying high profile cases of corruption often dampens the morale of personnel involved in the anti-graft war.
“Government should create specialised anti-corruption courts to hasten trial of corruption cases.
“Judges to serve in the specialised court should be properly incentivised to mitigate judicial corruption. Punishment for corruption must be certain and should equate the magnitude of offence committed,” he said.
Another legal expert, Samuel Nda, also called for the strengthening of the anti-corruption agencies to ensure optimal performance.
Nda said he would not rate the anti-corruption agencies in the country very low in view of the environment and circumstances in which they operate.
He said strengthening the institutions through legislation, improved funding and making them more independent would improve their performance.
The lawyer advocated for legislation that would empower the anti-corruption agencies to keep suspects, when arrested, till the completion of investigation.
“The current law, where the institutions are not allowed to detain suspects beyond 48 hours during interrogation will not allow for diligent investigation.
“For me, I think it is better they are given adequate time to carry out investigations because prosecution is easier with good investigation,” he said.
Nda, however, advised the anti-corruption agencies to always undertake proper investigations before making arrests, in line with global best practices.
He faulted the trend among anti-corruption agencies, especially the EFCC, where suspects were arrested without proper investigation.
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