*Advises President against selective prosecution
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*Caution your members against frustrating anti-corruption war, NBA warned
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Sunday, commended the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, for making the fight against corruption as credo of his government since May 29, 2015.
It however advised the President against selectivity in its anti-corruption fight.
President of the NBA, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN) it was gathered, gave these positions in Abuja at an event to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day.
He said, “It is gratifying that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has consistently made it the credo of his government to fight corruption, right from its inauguration almost four years ago. That is commendable.
“The fight must, however, not be selective or discriminatory in nature; it must not even be perceived to be selective or discriminatory.”
The NBA President further asked the government to ensure that trial of persons for corrupt practices was not tainted with corruption.
According to him, media trial of persons charged with corrupt practices amount to corruption itself and it degrades and corrupt the justice administration system, besides the damage it does to persons who may ultimately be discharged and acquitted.
Usoro believes it is corrupt practice to hide under the cover of the fight against corruption to destroy people’s reputations when they have not been found guilty of corrupt practices by competent courts.
He called for the speedy trial of persons for corrupt practices, stressing that it must not be used as an excuse for trampling upon the fundamental rights of such persons.
The NBA president listed some of the consequences of corruption to include uncompleted developmental projects in the country, even when the costs of such projects had been paid.
He, therefore, advised the government to beam its searchlight on such corrupt practices as a proactive measure in the fight against financial and economic corruption.
“This year marks the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (“UNCAC”). Since its adoption in 2003, the Convention Against Corruption has achieved near-universal status with 186 States including Nigeria signing up to the Convention.
“December 9 of every year is observed across the globe as the International Anti-Corruption Day (“IACD”) with the aim of raising public awareness of corruption and igniting discourse on, amongst others, required measures for tackling corruption. The Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) joins the International Community to mark today as the International Anti-Corruption Day.”
Some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, reacting to the speech of the NBA President, while commending him for seeing through the fact that anti-corruption fight has been made the credo of the administration in inception, however told both the lawyers president and its organization to pause a little and come clear when it comes to talking about selective anti-corruption fight claim.
They said such claim was playing into the hands of opposition and giving them the opportunity to rubbish the noble job of fighting corruption for Nigeria and Nigerians before corruption kills them.
One of them, Doyin Fusika in a reaction he made to The DEFENDER, said, “Is it not high time these lawyers stopped talking about selective anti-corruption against President Muhammadu Buhari Administration? You praise somebody for making fight against corruption the credo of his administration. You are saying at the same time that he must, however, not be selective. For how long will you give such advise?
“Positive contributions regarding new ideas to help the government move on are what Buhari needs now, not advice that makes it look like the President has done no more than selective justice since he started. The NBA should not however forget that fight against corrupt people suffered set a some points because of its members and so should rather warn them against frustrating the anti-corruption war so that Nigeria can move forward and develop as the NBA President rightly said,” he said.
