Reps probe report indicts NNPC, CBN, NEITI, audit firms

Reps probe report indicts NNPC, CBN, NEITI, audit firms.

 As always, every morning, I read Nigerian Newspapers on the web, looking for the unusual, but substantive stories that people might not care about. The instant article is a good example. Nigerians, especially those on social media, concentrate essentially on two main issues: the north-south divide and re-enactment of stories of corruption from other news sources, without actually doing any serious independent research. That’s what makes this story unique. This is serious journalism.

If you read the attached story, you will find out or are likely to conclude with me that there is a common thread in all of the corruption and squandering of our riches over the years - it has no ethnic label. Corruption transcends geography, race, tribe, and culture. For those of you crying for disintegration, though you may have valid points, chances are that your uncle or your brother is part of the wastage. NNPC, CBN, NEITI, and the Audit firms mentioned in the article above are made up of Nigerians from every corner of our troubled country.  

My only suggestion this time is that EFCC needs to clean itself up – it’s all about organisation and strategy. I do not think President Jonathan is controlling the entire EFCC as an independent corruption-fighting organisation or telling it who to prosecute and who not to prosecute. If that is the case, which I do not think it is, then they have no business remaining on the job. 

In addition, granted that the Bench has its peculiar problems, it is nevertheless more improved than the Bar presently in terms of efficiency and activism. If Prosecutors, EFCC, and their celebrated Lawyers are not willing to prosecute those indicted of unjust enrichment, there is nothing members of the Bench can do. They cannot simply convict any suspect or an accused brought before them based on the allegation, overwhelming or not. The State or the Prosecutor must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. That is the standard, and that is what EFCC and the AGF office are not doing presently in most cases.

And that is the reason no one from the institutions mentioned above is facing prosecution. There is no doubt; the leadership crisis some of us have been emphasising permeates every gamut and every sector of our beloved country.  The President cannot run or manage every agency, but he must be very willing to fire anyone lacking in integrity and effective management. It's all about results. If it is lacking, it is obvious. You don't need other indices to gauge performance. Therefore, the President needs little or no counsel on whom to fire or when to fire someone. EFCC is comatose beyond redemption.