The two public officials were finally given the boot yesterday, following an outcry by Nigerians who felt President Buhari was compromising his anti-corruption fight by not acting quickly on the report of the panel, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, tasked to investigate corruption allegations levelled against them.
ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor, while reacting to Buhari’s action on Monday said the Government must move beyond disengaging the officials to prosecuting them.
“President Buhari should take one more step and make sure that persons involved in such acts are not only sacked, but arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to spoil the anti-corruption efforts of his administration.”
To end impunity, he continued, Mr. President should support the Anti-Corruption Agencies to ensure all stolen monies are recovered from both Lawal and Oke.
“This case underscores the urgent need for the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill to perfect the process of recovering assets from politically exposed persons,” Rev Ugolor said.
ANEEJ, he said, believes that a mere sack is a slap on the wrist and a soft landing for individuals who have used public instruments and institutions to feather their nests to the detriment of the interests of the Nigerian public.
“A mere sack without prosecution could set a dangerous precedence and encourage others to defraud the state and eventually proceed on retirement to enjoy the proceeds of their criminal behavior.”
He called on President Buhari to publish the White papers from both the Vice President and the AG so as to institutionalize the processes of ending political corruption.
“For the prosecution, the anti-corruption agencies should be allowed to use the report to embark on proper prosecution of both Lawal and Oke.”
Rev Ugolor said that if the Federal Government can take the next step to vigorously pursue the prosecution of the dismissed duo, it would inject a good dose of confidence in the fight against corruption, and instill in Nigerians that the Buhari administration is committed to reducing corruption to its barest essentials.
“The prosecution of both Lawal and Oke will send the right signal to the international community that President Buhari is ready to tackle Corruption in all ramifications,” he noted.
