Politicians, SANs Disagreee over Exposing of The Big Looters

Prominent Nigerians disagree sharply over the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to “name and shame” those described as looters of the treasury.

While some are of the view that Government acted well by not releasing names of those who have refunded cash, others believe the non-disclosure of names has robbed negatively on the anti-graft war.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Niyi Akintola urged President Buhari to declare a state of emergency on corruption and the economy because, according to him, Nigerians are suffering.

He said the President disappointed Nigerians by refusing to disclose the names of looters, whose activities led to the economic adversity and despair in the land.

The lawyer, who spoke with The Nation, advised Mr President to suspend the rule of law for a season so that he can genuinely fight against corruption with speed and efficiency.

He said the N74bn recovered from suspected looters fell below expectation, adding that the Federal Government should beam the searchlight on former government officials.

In his own view, a Lagos politician, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, disclosing the names of the big looters is risky and may be counter-productive.

He said: “The disclosure by the Federal Government that the huge amount has been recovered is excellent. It is the right step in the right direction. But, no name can be mentioned now. If you mention their names, they will not return the rest of the money. If you mention their names, they will resort to litigation to frustrate the process.”

But Akintola (SAN), insisted that: “The refusal to disclose names fell below expectation. We should name them and shame them. Who made the refund? from which ministry? Which agency? We want to know from what sector. We are yet to get refund from the oil sector. What about the pension scam; the aviation sector? They claimed to have repaired Yola airport. It has spoilt again. They said they repaired the Murtala Muhammed Airport, but they are using buckets to clear the water there during the raining season.

“What about the SURE-P? There is the allegation that the recruitment of beneficiaries in Yobe is sectional. A minister even told me that they are not even from the state. What about the NNPC?”

                                
In Akintola’s view, it is too poor that only N78 billion was recovered in the last one year.

He said the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on corruption and the economy, stressing that the anti-graft battle will only be fought with speed and vigour, if the country can suspend the rule of law for at least one year.

On his part, the chairman of United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said looters should be punished to deter others.

He said: “The money recovered so far is mind boggling. The amount, put together, is about N3.5trillion, an amount more than 2015 budget. President Buhari must be commended for refusing to be blackmailed that the anti corruption fight is one-sided.

“Government should be encouraged to deploy the money toward doing what is good for the people. The government should also map out measures to make public officers account for any money entrusted to them because there will always be a day of reckoning.”

Okorie added that those who were allocated funds and never bothered to find out the source of the money, but refunded the money should be spared.

“Those who used their offices to make this kind of money should not be spared because there is no evidence that they have returned all the money in their care.

“This will serve a lesson to people who are likely to engage in such practices in future, that there is no running away from law.”