BY DAN OWEGIE
Mrs. Alison-Madueke
President Muhammadu Buhari last week started on a remarkable note in making good his promise to bring all looters of the nation’s common patrimony to justice as the news of the arrest in London of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke and her cronies shook the corruption world to its foundation.
The Nigerian presidency has confirmed her arrest in London, over allegations of corruption and money laundering. “The government is aware of the arrest and all the government investigative agencies are working very closely with the British law enforcement,” the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu told an Abuja- based print media.
The next line of action obviously would be her arraignment along with her accomplices in London. Looted assets would be tracked and repatriated. The good news about the British Legal system is that there is no hiding place for criminals. Before her arrest and possible arraignment, the law enforcement agencies would have completed their investigations, unlike what happens in our own clime where suspects, very often innocent ones are arrested first then the law enforcement agencies would start shopping around for evidence, sometimes, endlessly.
But Dieziani-Alison Madueke would by now know that she is in the net of a sophisticated and well organised legal environment where the law is no respecter of persons. She will by now be face-to-face with the reality of life which lends credence to the local adage that every day for the thief, one day for the owner.
It is also a truism that many treasury looters would by now be running for cover. But with all the assurances from world leaders that have been meeting with President Buhari, it is clear that there would be no hiding place for any one of them. Many Nigerians are glad with the latest development which is giving clear signals that the long arm of the law is coming alive again.
Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari and many State Governors on assumption of office raised the same alarm, even sounded like a broken record that they met empty treasuries! From across the length and breath of the country, the cry was the same. It meant that political office holders were just busy looting the nation and were quick to hide under the swan song of falling oil prices in the international market.
President Muhammadu Buhari should intensify the arrest and prosecution of all treasury looters where ever they may be hiding. From the Oil and Gas, through the nation’s ports, internal revenue generation agencies and pensions agencies. They should all be traced, tracked
and repatriated.
Nigerians expect President Muhammadu Buhari to address the crippling economic situation in the country that have rendered so many people poor and out of jobs. There should deliberate effort to create an enabling environment for job creation as labour creates wealth.
The fraudulent political office holders used all sorts of fronts, tactics and means to steal almost all revenues accruing to their states. If Diezani Alison Madueke and her cronies alone are to be arraigned for allegedly stealing and laundering over $50billion, it means the story line that the immediate past federal government and states government officials collectively stole over $500billion in the past eight years has some light, and it call for serious concern.
It is heartwarming to note that President Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed that billions of dollars stolen from government coffers by past government officials would be recovered by his government. He has been saying it almost every day and everywhere he went outside Nigeria. President Buhari also said that his administration has received firm assurances of cooperation from the United States, United Kingdome and Switzerland as well as other countries on the recovery and repatriation of funds stolen from Nigeria by mindless politically exposed persons. The arrest of Dieziani and her cronies is a confirmation of his commitment.
We must, therefore, be forward looking in the war against graft. President Muhammadu Buhari must reinforce the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFCC) and the Nigerian Police and overhaul their operations as a matter of urgency. Government must also provide them with clear mandates and targets within this period for looted assets recovery. Government should fund the anti-corruption agencies and Nigerians as well as friends of Nigeria should join in the war by volunteering information to security operatives.
President Muhammadu Buhari should also ensure that the Proceeds of Crime Bill is passed and signed into law. The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) should also be passed and signed into law to take care of the ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector. The war must be extended to all the states of the federation. All those who looted state and local government treasuries must be made to refund the monies to deter all current and future office holders from corruption and stealing of public funds.
All those who served as Ministers in juicy ministries under President Goodluck Jonathan who have fled the country ahead of the swearing in of Muhammadu Buhari as President should be made to face the music. Heads of juicy departments and agencies should be properly investigated. There must be disincentive for corrupt practices. In the same token, government should put reward schemes in place for the incorruptible.
The Edo State Comrade Governor-led Committee has done a thorough job and the Presidency needs to take the outcome of their report forward. A gazette of the report should be made and all perpetrators of corruption be appropriately dealt with. All recommendations in their reports should be implemented by the presidency. The various audits commissioned would certainly unearth more information for the security agencies to works with.
Finally, the Judiciary needs to complement the efforts of President Buhari. All corruption cases must be expeditiously heard and justice delivered. Monies have to be recovered and economic thieves jailed to send the right message to public office holders.
• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.