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  3. Vol. 44 No. 4 (2019): Africa Development: Special Issue on Money, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa (IV)
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Vol. 44 No. 4 (2019): Africa Development: Special Issue on Money, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa (IV)

Issue Published : February 3, 2020

3 - Beyond Recrimination: The Rule of Law and Nigeria’s Anti-graft War

https://doi.org/10.57054/ad.v44i4.662
Isaac Olawale Albert

Corresponding Author(s) : Isaac Olawale Albert

ioalbert2004@yahoo.com

Africa Development, Vol. 44 No. 4 (2019): Africa Development: Special Issue on Money, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa (IV)
Article Published : December 5, 2019

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Abstract

The existing literature on corruption in Nigeria and several other parts of the world focuses exclusively on recrimination, namely the securitisation or demonisation of the people accused of corruption and privileging the need to punish them. Atomised in these extant studies is the fact that anti-graft regimes equally have the responsibility to protect the rights of these accused persons in line with the principle of the rule of law. Refusal to protect these rights constitutes a form of corruption in itself. This article considers this issue as crucial to the assessment of the anti-graft war in Nigeria, since 2015 when Muhammadu Buhari became the president of the country. Attention is called to three of the nagging rule of law issues in the country seeking to be actionably addressed: (i) the abusive manner in which some of the accused persons are apprehended; (ii) how they are subjected to ‘media trial’ though the government eventually loses many of the celebrated cases; and (iii) how the Federal Government disobeys court orders to release some of the accused persons. This questions the credibility of the ongoing anti-graft war in the country and casts an air of authoritarianism around the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari. What Nigeria needs at this moment, in its democratisation effort, is an anti-corruption process that is based on the rule of law. Suggestions are made on how to deal with some of the emerging issues.

Keywords

corruption Anti-graft War President Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria

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Albert, I.O. 2019. 3 - Beyond Recrimination: The Rule of Law and Nigeria’s Anti-graft War. Africa Development. 44, 4 (Dec. 2019). DOI:https://doi.org/10.57054/ad.v44i4.662.
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References
  1. Adesomoju, A., 2017, ‘Saraki’s acquittal: “dance of twist” at CCT’, The Punch, 20 July, pp. 39–40.
  2. Agande, B., 2017a, ‘Security agents raid Namadi Sambo’s Kaduna residence’, Vanguard, 28 June, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/security-agents-raid-namadi-sambos-kaduna-residence/.
  3. Agande, B., 2017b, ‘Namadi Samabo raises the alarm, says residence search five times in six months’, Vanguard, 2 July, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/namadi-samabo-raises-alarmsays-residence-search-five-times-six-months/.
  4. Akinkuotu, E. and Hanafi, A., 2017, ‘EFCC sent assassins after me, bugged my phones – Patience’, The Punch, 11 July, p. 7.
  5. Daniel, S and Nnochiri, I., 2016, ‘Crackdown on judges: presidency backs DSS; says it followed the law’, Vanguard, 17 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/crackdown-judgespresidencybacks-dss-says-followed-law/.
  6. Ezeamalu, B., 2017, ‘Why Nigerian govt is losing corruption cases – Obasanjo’, Premium Times, 10 April, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/228441-nigerian-govt-losing-corruption-cases-obasanjo.html.
  7. Helliwell, J.F., 2006, ‘Well-being, social capital and public policy: what’s new?’,Economic Journal 116 (510): C34–C45.
  8. Johnston, M., 2005, Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power and Democracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  9. Kebonkwu, M., 2017, ‘Anti-corruption fight and judicial mockery’, The Nation, 11 July, p. 20.
  10. Mauro, P., 1995, ‘Corruption and growth’, Quarterly Journal of Economics 110: 681–712.
  11. Myrdal, G., 1968, Asian Drama: An Enquiry into the Poverty of Nations, New York: Twentieth Century Fund.
  12. Nnochiri, I., 2016a, ‘Anti-graft war: if the judges did anything wrong they should be investigated – legal practitioners’, Vanguard, 9 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/anti-graft-war-judges-anything-wrong-investigated-legal practitioners/.
  13. Nnochiri, I., 2016b, ‘Why DSS, AGF is after us, judges open up … seek NJC’s permission to drag DSS to court’, Vanguard, 16 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/dss-agf-us-judges-open/.
  14. Muhammad, G., 2017, ‘Security agencies search ex-VP Namadi Sambo’s house’, Premium Times, 28 June, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/235320-security-agencies-search-ex-vp-namadi-sambos-house.html.
  15. Okakwu, E., 2017, ‘False asset declaration charge: why we cleared Saraki – Code of Conduct Tribunal’, Premium Times, 14 June, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/234071-false-asset-declaration-charge-why-we-cleared-saraki-code-of-conduct-tribunal.html.
  16. The Guardian, 2015, ‘Editorial: Buhari’s complaints against the judiciary’, The Guardian, https://guardian.ng/opinion/buharis-complaints-against-the-judiciary/, 14 December.
  17. The Nation, 2017, ‘Whistleblow arraigned for giving false report’, 14 July, p. 7.
  18. The Punch, 2017, ‘Is judiciary to blame for failed corruption cases?’, 20 June, p. 2.
  19. Richards, O., 2017, ‘Bala Mohammed seeks release of personal effects from EFCC sealed house’, The Guardian, 5 July, p. 43.
  20. Rose-Ackerman, S., 2004, ‘Governance and Corruption’, in B. Lomborg, ed., Global Crises, Global Solutions, Cambridge University Press.
  21. Rothstein, B. and Uslaner, E.M., 2005, ‘All for all: equality, corruption and social trust’, World Politics 58: 41–73.
  22. Tocqueville, A. de, 1991 [1835], Democracy in America, Volume 1, edited by J.P. Mayer and M. Lerner, translated by G. Lawrence, Norwalk, CT: Easton Press. UN, 2016, Bibliography of Corruption in Nigeria, Abuja: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Office Nigeria.
  23. United Nations Security Council (UNSC), 2004, The Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies: Report of the Secretary-General, UNSC, UN Doc. S/2004/616 at 4, New York: United Nations Security Council.
  24. Vanguard, 2016, ‘Lawyers divided over judges’ arrest by DSS, 10 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/lawyers-divided-judges-arrest dss/.
  25. Williams-Smith, W., 2017, ‘Ex-PDP ministers condemn raid of ex-VP Sambo’s residence’, Today, 4 July.
  26. You, J., 2006, ‘A comparative study of income inequality, corruption and social trust: How inequality and corruption reinforce each other and erode social trust’, PhD dissertation, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
  27. Yusuf, U., 2017, ‘Appeal court acquits Bala Ngilari, ex-Adamawa gov’, Vanguard, 21 July, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/appeal-court-acquits-bala-ngilari-ex-adamawa-gov/.
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References


Adesomoju, A., 2017, ‘Saraki’s acquittal: “dance of twist” at CCT’, The Punch, 20 July, pp. 39–40.

Agande, B., 2017a, ‘Security agents raid Namadi Sambo’s Kaduna residence’, Vanguard, 28 June, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/security-agents-raid-namadi-sambos-kaduna-residence/.

Agande, B., 2017b, ‘Namadi Samabo raises the alarm, says residence search five times in six months’, Vanguard, 2 July, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/namadi-samabo-raises-alarmsays-residence-search-five-times-six-months/.

Akinkuotu, E. and Hanafi, A., 2017, ‘EFCC sent assassins after me, bugged my phones – Patience’, The Punch, 11 July, p. 7.

Daniel, S and Nnochiri, I., 2016, ‘Crackdown on judges: presidency backs DSS; says it followed the law’, Vanguard, 17 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/crackdown-judgespresidencybacks-dss-says-followed-law/.

Ezeamalu, B., 2017, ‘Why Nigerian govt is losing corruption cases – Obasanjo’, Premium Times, 10 April, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/228441-nigerian-govt-losing-corruption-cases-obasanjo.html.

Helliwell, J.F., 2006, ‘Well-being, social capital and public policy: what’s new?’,Economic Journal 116 (510): C34–C45.

Johnston, M., 2005, Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power and Democracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kebonkwu, M., 2017, ‘Anti-corruption fight and judicial mockery’, The Nation, 11 July, p. 20.

Mauro, P., 1995, ‘Corruption and growth’, Quarterly Journal of Economics 110: 681–712.

Myrdal, G., 1968, Asian Drama: An Enquiry into the Poverty of Nations, New York: Twentieth Century Fund.

Nnochiri, I., 2016a, ‘Anti-graft war: if the judges did anything wrong they should be investigated – legal practitioners’, Vanguard, 9 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/anti-graft-war-judges-anything-wrong-investigated-legal practitioners/.

Nnochiri, I., 2016b, ‘Why DSS, AGF is after us, judges open up … seek NJC’s permission to drag DSS to court’, Vanguard, 16 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/dss-agf-us-judges-open/.

Muhammad, G., 2017, ‘Security agencies search ex-VP Namadi Sambo’s house’, Premium Times, 28 June, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/235320-security-agencies-search-ex-vp-namadi-sambos-house.html.

Okakwu, E., 2017, ‘False asset declaration charge: why we cleared Saraki – Code of Conduct Tribunal’, Premium Times, 14 June, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/234071-false-asset-declaration-charge-why-we-cleared-saraki-code-of-conduct-tribunal.html.

The Guardian, 2015, ‘Editorial: Buhari’s complaints against the judiciary’, The Guardian, https://guardian.ng/opinion/buharis-complaints-against-the-judiciary/, 14 December.

The Nation, 2017, ‘Whistleblow arraigned for giving false report’, 14 July, p. 7.

The Punch, 2017, ‘Is judiciary to blame for failed corruption cases?’, 20 June, p. 2.

Richards, O., 2017, ‘Bala Mohammed seeks release of personal effects from EFCC sealed house’, The Guardian, 5 July, p. 43.

Rose-Ackerman, S., 2004, ‘Governance and Corruption’, in B. Lomborg, ed., Global Crises, Global Solutions, Cambridge University Press.

Rothstein, B. and Uslaner, E.M., 2005, ‘All for all: equality, corruption and social trust’, World Politics 58: 41–73.

Tocqueville, A. de, 1991 [1835], Democracy in America, Volume 1, edited by J.P. Mayer and M. Lerner, translated by G. Lawrence, Norwalk, CT: Easton Press. UN, 2016, Bibliography of Corruption in Nigeria, Abuja: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Office Nigeria.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC), 2004, The Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies: Report of the Secretary-General, UNSC, UN Doc. S/2004/616 at 4, New York: United Nations Security Council.

Vanguard, 2016, ‘Lawyers divided over judges’ arrest by DSS, 10 October, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/lawyers-divided-judges-arrest dss/.

Williams-Smith, W., 2017, ‘Ex-PDP ministers condemn raid of ex-VP Sambo’s residence’, Today, 4 July.

You, J., 2006, ‘A comparative study of income inequality, corruption and social trust: How inequality and corruption reinforce each other and erode social trust’, PhD dissertation, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

Yusuf, U., 2017, ‘Appeal court acquits Bala Ngilari, ex-Adamawa gov’, Vanguard, 21 July, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/appeal-court-acquits-bala-ngilari-ex-adamawa-gov/.

Author Biography

Isaac Olawale Albert

Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Email: ioalbert2004@yahoo.com

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