Nigeria’s Anti Corruption War: Would a New Approach Works?

By

Zayyad I. Muhammad


Corruption is one of the most widespread social evils in Nigeria; it is seen as a main threat in the public and private sphere. Corruption undermines fragile democratic systems by fuelling popular disillusionment with politics and politicians; it also undermines trust and confidence, which are necessary for upholding and development of sustainable economic and social order. Corruption is not only peculiar to Nigeria, it is a global phenomenon. However, anti-corruption war in Nigeria is like a gun-war being fought with bows and arrows, it is a war that can turn its fighters into victims and those being fought into heroes, it is a war that both sides manipulate to gain personal and political points, it is a ‘world’ of controversies, politics, extensive debates and high public expectations.
 
EFCC is the central institution saddled with the responsibility of fighting Nigeria’s anti-corruption war. The Commission and its helmsmen were recently featuring in the news in positive as well as negative pictures, both at local and international media.  EFCC and its protagonists hold the view that, the Commission is on the right track; while its antagonists and some public commentators have observed some lapses in the manner the Commission is executing its mission.
 
On the street opinion about the Commission and the anti-corruption war in Nigeria is mixed; most Nigerians believe that it is "impossible" to root out corruption especially in within the political class, and there is general public consensus that, Nigeria needs a dogged anti corruption agency, but public trust on EFCC is regrettably fast diminishing. This entails that, what we have is not what ought to be! There is need for Nigeria’s anti corruption body and the men and women steering its affairs to make adjustments; shift ground and start ‘the big thinking’, because the Nigeria in which the anti graft Commission was born, is today entirely a new one¯ the catchphrase in today’s Nigerian polity is ‘Rule of Law’, which many people are accusing the Commission of being not adherent to, though, EFCC’s protagonists are of the view, forces against the Commission are hiding behind ‘Rule of Law’ to cut the Commission’s  feathers.
 
Whichever way one looks at it, it is apparent that EFCC is in a tied situation, because it appears that, it’s past; especially its pre-2007 elections actions are hunting the Commission. But how would the EFCC and its new helmsman confront these thorny challenges facing them? In order to sustain the goodwill it is enjoying from international community; and cleans the stains on its face that is making some Nigerians critical of it.
 
What are these adjustments that EFCC is expected to do? And ‘the big thinking’ Nigerians expect it new helmsman to do? First things that this writer believes are paramount for the new helmsman of EFCC to have in his mind are: anti-corruption Czars rarely talk in public, but when they do, they carefully choose their words. Anti-corruption Czars can’t wine and dine with corrupt  politicians, attend their lavish wedding ceremonies, be present at their extravagant   traditional title investiture or personal project fund raising ceremony, then expect complete public trust. When one accepts to be the Head of an institution like EFCC, he or she has chosen to be a ‘saint’, and must labor to appear as one, though, as human, we have our weakness, but the point is, Anti-corruption Czars can’t preach fasting in the morning and practice gluttony in the night.
 
The anti-corruption war in Nigeria and particularly EFCC as an institution responsible for fighting the war, have to be align with the current realities, because public morals may loosen, and the battle against corruption may well be lost if Nigeria’s anti-corruption war is continue to be affected by controversies which are political in nature and EFCC continue to stick to  its current  style of prosecuting it mission- The situation where EFCC slammed 120 count charges on a person  accused  of being corrupt while in public office, and none of the charges can be established, should be replace with an approach that is multifaceted, multidisciplinary and knowledge-driven; an approach that would assist all institutions of government in re-establishing norms and standards of governance, assists the public, NGOs  and even the legislature in monitoring of compliance with the standards; help in restoring social order especially in politics; and promotes advocacies  and  capacity building among genuine  whistleblowers, in short, Nigeria’s  anti-corruption war  should not only be limited to  arrests, arraignment of accused in courts of law and unnecessary  controversies. 
 
 EFCC should explore the inter-nations technical co-operation on corruption, to develop mechanism that would help Nigeria have a system that discourages outright stealing of public fund, and develop an anti-corruption war that relied on forensic evidence, well-trained personnel and free of unnecessary controversies. EFFC should, this time-around, effectively utilize the provisions in   the National Assembly Act 2004, establishing it. For instance, Part III, section 12, subsection 1(c) and subsection (2), which provided for establishment of Research Unit; and any committee to assist the commission, are good avenues for the commission to explore to bring itself at par with Nigerians expectations. However, the best weapon the new helmsman of EFFC have, is, adherence to rule of law, because with the current uncompromising stand on adherence to Rule of Law, by President Yar’Adua, any disregard of   Rule of Law will not only send one to kuru, it may send one to Kirikiri.
 
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa state
zaymohd@yahoo.com