$150m Abacha loot: Group asks Tinubu to use judicious

The Coalition for Democracy in Nigeria (CODIN) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that the booty taken from the late General Sanni Abacha is properly documented.

At the conclusion of an emergency meeting in Ibadan yesterday, the pro-democracy group’s president, Mr. Mashood Erubami, made the call while speaking to members.

He made this statement in the wake of France’s decision to repatriate an additional $150 million in Abacha loot, stating that “recovery of such loots by corrupt leaders must continue to be accounted for while informing the people of the innovative and lasting projects being targeted for the people’s welfare…”

Furthermore, FG and the criminal justice system’s stakeholders—especially the judiciary—should collaborate effectively, according to his demands.

At the 2019 biennial All Nigeria Judges Conference of Superior Courts opening ceremony in Abuja, Comrade Erubami reminded President Tinubu of previous calls made by former President Muhammadu Buhari to “discuss how to create an efficient structure for the proposed Special Crimes Courts or the urgent designation of existing courts as Special Courts with competent and seasoned credible judicial officers in order to remove administrative bottlenecks in the judicial process.”

“All parties involved in the criminal justice system, which will be led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the justice reform sectors should rise above the present obstacles facing the judiciary and take decisive action to address these issues, which have impeded the nation’s fierce efforts to combat corruption.”

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According to the activist, if corruption is brought to a complete stop, the stakeholders forum should devise fresh strategies to demonstrate their dedication to various justice sector reforms, including reviewing current legislation and passing new ones that will enhance the lives of Nigerians.

“The Tinubu Administration must not be merely committed to the judiciary reforms in isolation of its supportive economic revival through the incorruptible attraction of foreign direct investments into the country as well as fighting corruption and insecurity,” he declared.

Rich foreign investments can only succeed in an environment where conducting business is simple and company procedures are subject to international best practices under the guidance of the law, he stated.

Hence, in order to enhance transparency, security, and the prompt adjudication of crimes related to corruption, he called on the bench and the bar to collaborate in order to stay up to date with the government’s anti-corruption project models.

The group emphasized that the interpretation of the constitutional provisions and justices in the various anti-corruption laws, as well as any new laws that might be enacted to combat individuals exposed for corruption by all three branches of government, must be done through judicial interpretation. This interpretation will determine substantive justice rather than merely passing judgment.

“The nation’s judicial leadership must renew efforts to thwart the trend that will involve the judicial institution in ensuring that corruption impunities are fought to their logical conclusion in order to prevent the people from drawing the conclusion that the judiciary was responsible for the widespread corruption fightback.”

The speaker finished by saying that people who volunteer to act as a “go-between,” whether they are individuals, police, or lawyers, should be prosecuted like criminals and brought before the courts for proper, impartial legal treatment.