Identifying those returning loot

During the 2015 election campaign Nigerians were repeatedly told that those corrupt public officials responsible for our current socio-economic chaos would face the long arm of the law. It was a major reason why people supported and voted for, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB). In what can best be described as a complete volte-face, Minister for […]

During the 2015 election campaign Nigerians were repeatedly told that those corrupt public officials responsible for our current socio-economic chaos would face the long arm of the law. It was a major reason why people supported and voted for, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB). In what can best be described as a complete volte-face, Minister for Information Lai Mohammed recently released scanty details of monies claimed to have been recovered as our dividends from the anti-corruption war. It’s pure deception, the more you look, the less you see! Technically the Federal Government has recovered nothing, and are still at the level of interim forfeiture because legal ownership of any proceeds from criminal activities cannot be transferred back to the national treasury without a Court judgment.        
Undeniably PMB won the election on account of his reputation for integrity, not political sagacity. The failure to publish names was another political blunder indicative of the poor calibre of those advising him. Returning money is an admission of guilt.  It simply means thieves and fraudsters who accept they have been uncovered are attempting to evade justice by returning part of their illegally acquired cash and assets. There is no reason such people should be shielded. The end result is that now, quite unnecessarily, there are widespread rumours that identities were not disclosed because many of those involved are Ministers, National Assembly members or senior figures in the APC hierarchy. Worst still the recent lopsided federal appointments, failure to act against rampaging murderous herdsmen, removal of fuel subsidy and support for subsidy on cattle rearing through the provision of grazing “rights”, have led to further rumours that the failure to disclose names could be because those who returned the money are prominent northerners who PMB cannot disgrace! All these insinuations and idle speculations could so easily have been avoided if complete details were published. Releasing figures without names was an exercise in futility. This useless list cannot possibly discourage theft because no one has been humiliated. Regrettably the publication was more about the glorification of government than any serious attempt at deterrence, or any retribution for either our soldiers killed due to poor equipment, Nigerians who died because they couldn’t receive proper medical attention, children denied proper education, or all other unnecessary sufferings caused as a result of treasury looting. There must be a public monument with the names of looters indelibly carved on it (like the Vietnam War memorial) so that never again will individuals or cabals be bigger that the Federal Republic of Nigeria.                
There has been so much drivel spewed out on TV by so called “legal experts”, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and Professors of Law claiming there is no legal basis for revealing identities. They should hide their heads in shame. Where were they when it concerned the rights of ordinary citizens’?  Renowned for defending the indefensible, (“wuru wuru” law) they stand logic on its head and make millions from defending corrupt persons in court. They say nothing when the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) regularly handcuffs “suspects” accused of armed robbery, kidnappings, petty theft, child rape, and ritual murder who have not been convicted in any court of law and yet are paraded in the press almost daily. Evidently in their “expert” opinions poor and un-connected Nigerians don’t have don’t have human rights, even though the consequences of their crimes are less severe than those committed by the rich and powerful. Such “legal experts” are renowned for protesting against detention without trial of those who can pay their multi-million naira legal fees, then doing everything to frustrate the course of justice with the proceeds of corruption.           
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the whole matter is that some Nigerians are hailing the list with their usual “at least” mentality in which they justify our leaders’ mediocre actions by saying “at least they have done something no matter how small”. Nigerians must learn to hold their leaders to the highest standards otherwise visionless incompetence and corruption in governance will continue to flourish. Cynics claim ironically that the corrupt are so shameless that naming them is neither here nor there. As evidence they point to the continued high profile lifestyle of the Abacha family and the fact that James Ibori still has massive support in his area and will most likely receive a “hero’s welcome” and be quickly re-integrated into high society whenever he returns. Be that as it may, names must be published so that Nigerians know not to trust such people again and have a better understanding of the processes through which their money is being stolen. It’s up to all Nigerians particularly those in the media, to exercise their rights under the Freedom of Information Act to demand the publication of these names. If treasury looters continue to go scot-free just because like they returned part of their loot, the anti-corruption war will never be won.