- The Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption (PACAC) reveals why it is difficult for the EFCC to prosecute
indicted leaders
- The committee set by President Muhammadu Buhari also explains why plea-bargaining has become important
At
a time Nigeria is reeling in economic crisis, it has been revealed that
some of its citizens are actually richer than the country, but their
wealth are proceeds of corruption.
The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption
(PACAC) initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari made this revelation
saying some indicted leaders were far richer than the country.
Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, the executive secretary of the
Itse Sagay-led committee, spoke at a one-day workshop and media parley
in Lagos on Tuesday, November 29.
Owasanoye said some of
the indicted had not been prosecuted because the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) was being hindered by lack of funds.
According
to him, the anti-graft agency had a low budgetary allocation just like
the ministry of Justice which is not a revenue-generating one.
The Sun quoted Owasanoye as saying: "Some of these
indicted leaders are even richer than the country, that’s why you will
see an accused in court with four to five Senior Advocates of Nigeria
(SANs) defending them. Do you know how much it costs to hire a SAN?"
He
also said the the way the recovered loots are being monitored makes it
very difficult to re-loot the funds adding that no government has the
capacity to prosecute all offences.
This, according to him, makes plea-bargaining a good option.
“The plea bargain is not a trade off, but what has been set up with other guidelines to refrain suspects from seeing it as an outlet for easy escape.
The new Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) is
meant to resolve challenges in the criminal justice system but, if it is
failing, then, it is as a result of implementation.
“We
also intend embarking on a revisit of some high profile corruption
cases like the Halliburton case, as well as others, and see them to a
logical conclusion,” he said.