There is no doubt that the last four years of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has made unparalleled impact in its push to take down forces of corruption in the country.
Accoording to the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) elements of public malfeasance such as blatant misuse, stealing and misappropriation of public funds have been made unattractive and have become rare occurrences in our public space.
In a statement signed by Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, the Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively, BMO said the Buhari administration has made it part of its anti-corruption policy to bring to book, prosecute and ensure the sentencing of persons who have been found wanting in the mismanagement of the country’s resources.
“It has made sure that the long arms of the law caught up with those who have taken from Nigeria’s commonwealth and impoverished the nation. The recent announcement by the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of successful convictions it has secured in the last 10 months is testimony to these successes.”
The group went further to highlight that the Buhari administration, through its anti-corruption agencies, has garnered over 1,300 successful convictions in the last 4 years; with most of the convictions achieved in the last 10 months.
“In the last 10 months, 890 convictions were secured by the EFCC alone. This is not just a monumental figure, it is unprecedented in the impressive efforts the commission has made in the last 4 years. It compares as enormous when placed side by side the sum total of 202 convictions in 2018. This is the result of consistency, patience and dedication to duty.
“The progress is also evidence that the Buhari administration has made a critical headway in dismantling the institution of corruption – from the acts of malfeasance, stealing and misappropriation and even up to the structural and institutional protections, delays and technicalities that more often than not, favoured the accused against the prosecutors.
“Nigeria’s anti-corruption war is definitely getting its fight right, and we are seeing exponential growth in the tangibles.”
BMO also posited that in the last four years the Buhari administration has made recoveries of over a Trillion Naira in both final forfeitures, in bargains and other court processes.
“Moneys that would ordinarily have been used for the building of power plants, roads, dams, rails, airports, supporting businesses and others, unfortunately, found their way into the pockets of those who we trusted to build our nation. Fortunately, the Buhari administration has taken the unpopular assignment to reverse this, and is recovering these stolen and misappropriated resources which it is ploughing back to the country for the betterment of the Nigerian people.
“The once slow wheel of justice is gathering momentum. We believe that more successes would be recorded in the coming months and years from our anti-graft agencies. The right foundation has been laid for more convictions, return of looted state funds, and plenty forfeitures.”
The group commended the leadership of the country’s various anti-graft agencies and also the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) for their steadfastness in achieving these victories against corruption. It encouraged them not to relent as they push to take more grounds in the battle against corruption.
