Fighting corruption is difficult in a democracy - President Buhari

Fighting corruption is difficult in a democracy - President Buhari

- As the war against corruption continues, President Buhari has said his administration is doing its best to recover as much loot as is humanly possible

- Receiving his Namibian counterpart, the president said fighting corruption in a democracy is difficult

- According to him, the government is trying to sell the assets wherever they are found and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, July 4, revealed plans to overhaul the nation’s judiciary as he noted that fighting corruption in a democracy is a difficult task unlike it is under a military dictatorship.

Buhari made the comment a joint press conference with visiting President Hage Geingob of Namibia at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The president hinted that some judges will be re-designated to handle corruption cases for effectiveness.

READ ALSO: Spend $320m Abacha loot on projects Nigerians can see - Shehu Sani tells Buhari

He said: “So we are willing but it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system. We are getting the cooperation of countries.

“We are trying to sell the assets wherever we found them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury. This is all I can say at this stage because we are reorganizing the judiciary.

“We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have question s to answer.

“So, that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up; we are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible."

In his remark, President Geingob thanked the Nigerian government for its support and assistance to Namibia via the deployment of Nigerian volunteers under the Technical Aid Corps.

He said that he was in Nigeria to pay his last respect to late Professor Adebayo Adedeji, one time executive secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa whom he described as his mentor.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

Geingob congratulated President Buhari for his efforts in dealing with corruption in Nigeria and beyond but expressed regrets that corruption in Africa was becoming serious case and requiring strong hands like the Nigerian leader.

He (Buhari) is taking steps that will encourage all of us. I declared war against poverty and corruption. I declared my assets publicly. I therefore emulate my brother here," he said.

Meanwhile, YIAGA Africa has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the recent conviction of two ex-governors for misappropriation of public funds.

In a statement sent to Legit.ng by its executive director, Samson Itodo, the group hailed the EFCC for ensuring that justice prevailed despite the length of time involved in the trial.

Ex-governor of Taraba state, Jolly Nyame, was convicted by a high court of the Federal Capital Territory to refund monies diverted and serve a jail term of fourteen (14) years for diverting N1.64 billion, while his Plateau state counterpart, Joshua Dariye, was also convicted to serve a jail term of fourteen (14) years for misappropriating N1.16 billion ecological funds while he governed the state between 1999-2007.

The EFCC stages walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng

Online view pixel