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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A lecturer in the Department of Law, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun state, Prof Ifeolu Koni, has decried the level of corruption in Africa, particularly the developing countries.
He lamented that Nigeria is not left out in the cankerworm of corruption, saying that the poor hardly breathe, paying for the sins of an unknown syndicate of the petroleum subsidy scam under the present government.
Prof Koni said Africa should also take steps to amend its mainstream anti-corruption instrument by inserting a provision for sanctions on any Member State that fails or refuses to honour her obligations under the AU Convention, particularly those bordering on illegal funds transfer within and outside the continent.
In his inaugural lecture series 11 titled: The Hypocrisy of International Cooperation on the War against Corruption and Abuse of Office in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria,’ delivered at Redeemer’s University, Thursday, Prof Koni decried the level of corruption, particularly since the return of political power to the civilian in 1999 in Nigeria.
He noted that in Yoruba land, it used to be taboo for a villager to commit the offense of stealing, saying that whenever a case of theft or stealing was established against an accused person, he could be banished from the village or the front of his father’s house could be turned to a heap where the entire villagers would dump their refuse for 30 days or more, depending on the gravity of the offense.
According to Prof Koni, people in the Yoruba region of Nigeria used to comport themselves with immense rectitude to avoid bringing shame or disgrace upon their family names.
“It is indeed sad to note that since political power returned to the civilians in May 1999, the country’s corruption status has continued to plummet. From retired General Olusegun Obasanjo to Yaradua/Jonathan; to another retired General Muhammadu Buhari; and the new government of Bola Tinubu, the narrative has remained unchanged. The situation has got so bad now that the poor can hardly breathe as they are being forced to pay for the sins of the invisible and escapable cartel responsible for the nation’s petroleum subsidy scam,” Koni said.
He posited that the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has done well by devoting chapter V of its framework for International cooperation for purposes of prevention, detection, confiscation, and recovery of proceed of crime, saying “if carefully and honestly implemented, it can go a long way to curb money laundering and other transitional financial crimes and corrupt practices.
“Instead of Africa merely bemoaning the of the Western and other developed countries to fulfil fulfill obligations under UNCAC, especially those concerning and failure repatriation of stolen assets and funds, some of its Member States, like Nigeria, should initiate the process of amendment of the Convention, under article A.
“The purpose of the amendment should be to include a new chapter on sanctions or consequences of non-fulfillment of the obligations of a State Party under the Convention. Presently, there are no sanctions attached to infractions or breaches of a State Party’s obligations. This, no doubt, is one of the major reasons why the objectives elegantly outlined in article A Convention have not been achieved. And they are likely to remain so unless and until steps are taken to review the mechanisms implemented nation of the Convention, under the auspices of the Conference of States.
“African Union should also look inwards and adopt measures from time to time to review her commitment to the obligations imposed on its Member States under both the UNCAC and African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
“The continent should also take steps to amend its mainstream anti-corruption instrument by inserting a provision for sanctions on any Member State that fails or refuses to honour her obligations under the AU Convention, particularly those bordering on illegal funds transfer within and outside the continent,” Prof Koni said.
