Looters beware

Federal Government owes the country a duty to ensure that all looted fund is recovered in the open

When the Federal Government announced that another tranche of looted fund amounting to N31 billion had been uncovered, Nigerians were happy that the war against corruption would be given effect. It was also expected that the Buhari administration that had promised to ensure good governance but appeared incapacitated by paucity of funds could after all take off with the money so recovered. Those interested in justice, too, looked forward to the arrest, arraignment and prosecution of the suspected looters who had, by their action, sent many to their early graves. However, suggestions by the presidency that the

looters could be given soft landing are disquieting. We are surprised that so early in the life of this administration that held out so much promise during the election, a bleak prospect is being painted already. We warn that the alleged crime is neither against President Muhammadu Buhari nor the Federal Government. It is against the Nigerian state. The money involved belongs to the Nigerian

state and people. Therefore, the government owes it to the entire public to handle all issues appertaining to the fund transparently. It is unbelievable that at a time like this, some Nigerians could constitute themselves into a cabal and embezzle what should have made section 14 of the constitution and the welfare provisions in the supreme law of the country relevant.

The issues involved are too grave to be treated with a slap on the wrist. In a country where petty thieves are sentenced to more than 10 years for stealing goats, what justice is being promoted if plunderers of the treasury are told to go and sin no

more? Plea bargain might not be strange to our law. It might have been introduced to ensure that cases do not drag on for too long. But, what was the essence of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act? It is the duty of the three arms of

government to ensure that enemies of state are given appropriate punishment. We note, too, that if plea bargain is to be entertained in whatever guise, it is not the responsibility of the executive to handle the transactions. Apart from putting the

details in the public domain, the case must be charged to court to enable the judiciary adjudicate the matters. The lawyers have to come up with all the issues; we must be told all those involved and how much has been traced to each. It is not the

duty of government to shield those who have bled the economy, rendering so many young Nigerians jobless and industries comatose. We recall a recent statement by the President that some of

those responsible for the decadence of the system have been quietly returning their loot. We reiterate that this is unacceptable. It is not left for the looters to take action as and when they deem fit. It is not about their convenience, but Nigeria’s. We look forward to actions this administration would

take in sanitising the justice sector- from arrest, to detention, arraignment, prosecution and sentencing. A lot has gone wrong over the years and now is the time we expect a government that prides itself as committed to effecting wholesale change to swing into action. Nigeria prides itself as a democracy. It lags far behind so many other countries, including some in Africa. It is therefore right that the people are fully brought into the picture as democracy is hinged on popular participation. The day is gone when a President could describe himself as the sovereign. The people are the kings. If the looting culture is to end, all those who treated themselves to opulence at the expense of the state should be appropriately handled. It is apposite to bring it to the attention of the incumbent administration that building a country- a democracy- is not hinged on strong men, but institutions, mechanisms and processes. This is the responsibility bestowed on it. Negotiating with suspected looters amount to a betrayal of the confidence reposed in the government and subversion of institutions of

state. The day is long gone now when sloppy prosecution by anti-graft agencies could be contemplated and condoned. All agencies and institutions must be alive to their duties. Agencies

such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) should patriotically handle their constitutionally assigned duties. President Buhari, the Federal Executive Council and the Attorney General of the Federation are key officials and agencies of state charged with ensuring that the end of justice is well served in the matter at hand and other similar loots. They must live up to their responsibilities.