According to official statements, the government has said that the establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Coalition (IACC) will represent a significant change in its strategy for addressing corruption on a worldwide scale.
The statement was made by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who serves as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Fagbemi delivered this speech at the 33rd Anti-Corruption Situation Room, which was organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre in collaboration with Integrity Initiatives International. The event took place in Abuja.
According to Fagbemi, as expressed by Deputy Director (Public Prosecution) Yusuf Abdullahi Abdulkadir, the detrimental effects of corruption on Nigeria's progress, stability, and economic well-being are of utmost significance and cannot be emphasized enough.
He stated that Nigeria, being a nation that has been profoundly impacted by corruption, stands to gain considerable advantages from the establishment of an International Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC). A court of this nature could serve as a forum for addressing legal disputes that pertain to individuals and assets situated in other jurisdictions, frequently associated with large-scale corruption schemes that significantly hinder Nigeria's endeavors for growth.
It has the potential to function as a supplementary instrument to enhance and reinforce the country's internal endeavors in combating corruption. The detrimental effects of corruption on Nigeria's development, stability, and prosperity are of significant importance and should not be underestimated.
The government asserts that corruption, in its various forms, poses a significant peril to the stability, progress, and development of nations worldwide. It characterizes graft as a pervasive malignancy that transcends borders, erodes trust, undermines institutions, impedes economic growth, and perpetuates social inequity.
According to the minister's statement, the establishment of the IACC in Nigeria will provide the government with the means to address prominent cases, influential individuals, and facilitate the retrieval of unlawfully acquired assets and properties from foreign jurisdictions.
During the ceremony, Olanrewaju Suraj, the chairman of HEDA, expressed the view that corruption is a pervasive issue that necessitates resolute efforts to eradicate it in Nigeria.
The individual expressed concern on the current state of affairs in Nigeria, emphasizing the potential implications of the prevalent elevation of corrupt individuals to positions of greater authority.
Therefore, it is evident that ministers who face allegations of corruption are reinstated to their positions. A portion of individuals are assuming roles as ministers, while others are serving as governors who are currently through legal proceedings. Additionally, ministers have been appointed as heads of agencies, and a significant number of individuals are presently occupying positions at both the federal and state levels.
There is a legitimate concern that the illicit gains obtained through corrupt practices are utilized either to maintain one's position in power or to get more favorable and lucrative appointments.
According to Fagbemi, the establishment and evolution of numerous international anti-corruption procedures and frameworks have been observed as efficient means to combat corruption on a worldwide scale. These institutions play a vital role in our joint endeavor to eliminate corruption, encompassing conventions such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption and regional initiatives such as the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
Although it is undeniable that these mechanisms have achieved substantial progress in combating corruption, there is a rising call for the creation of an International Anti-Corruption Court, which warrants careful deliberation. The concept of an International Anti-Corruption Convention (IACC) signifies a fundamental change in our strategy towards addressing corruption on a global scale.
An International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC) would serve as a dedicated platform for handling cases of high-level corruption that frequently transcend national boundaries and involve influential individuals and institutions. The primary objective would be to establish a framework that ensures individuals implicated in acts of corruption are held liable for their conduct, irrespective of their status or citizenship. This action would effectively convey the notion that corruption is universally unacceptable, regardless of geographical location.
Corruption, in its various manifestations, presents a significant peril to the stability, advancement, and growth of nations globally. The aforementioned factors erode confidence in governmental bodies, diminish the effectiveness of institutions, impede economic development, and sustain patterns of social inequity. Cancer is a disease that exhibits a global impact, transcending geographical and socioeconomic barriers, thereby affecting nations at various stages of development.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice (AGF) recognized that Nigeria, similar to numerous other countries, has been contending with the profound consequences of corruption for an extended period. This issue has pervaded diverse aspects of Nigerian society, encompassing the public and private sectors, as well as local communities and the uppermost levels of government.
The significance of the conference lies in the gathering of experts who aim to examine, question, and exchange knowledge regarding international anti-corruption mechanisms and frameworks. This was emphasized by Prof. Tawfiq Ladan, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, who was represented by Prof. Emily Alemika, a former instructor of Public Law at the University of Jos.
