The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in collaboration with the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) on Thursday September 26, 2024 held their seventh edition of the Citizens Accountability and Rights Forum (CARF).
The event held at the Rights House, Adeniyi Jones Road, Ikeja, Lagos, had the theme, ‘Fighting Corruption in a Complex Society Like Nigeria: Deficiencies in Public Awareness of Corruption Reporting System’.
The programme attracted Mr Kabir Elelu, the Resident Commissioner, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Crimes Commission (ICPC), who was represented by an Assistant Commissioner, Mrs. Florence Bariboluka, as the keynote speaker, and Dr Abiodun Afolabi, Special Adviser, Office of Political and Legislative and Civic Engagement, Lagos State government, who was represented by Mr. Aruna Ayodeji, a Director in the department.
Also in attendance was Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Paul Okafor, who represented both the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi, and the Lagos State Police Commissioner,Olanrewaju Ishola Olawale.
However, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omototoso, could not make it to the event. Also absent was the officer in charge of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos, who could not also send a representative.
There were also several activists and representatives of several media houses as well as officials and members of several Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the state.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Debo Adeniran, President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), who doubles as Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), organisers of the programme, noted that the Citizens Accountability and Rights Forum (CARF), is a bold step in the groups’ commitment to the creation of a peaceful atmosphere between the people on the demand side of governance in Lagos State and those on the supply side.
On the theme of the day, Adeniran, a veteran activist, stressed, “It is a known fact that Nigeria’s endemic corruption is the country’s greatest challenge to its stability despite several anti-graft efforts from the government, which raises questions about the Nigerian institutions’ ability to tackle corruption.
“That is why we would beam our searchlight on corruption in the country with the theme, ‘Fighting Corruption in a Complex Society like Nigeria: Deficiencies in Public Awareness of Corruption Reporting System’.”
He stated that during the programme, the participants would explore the different angles to the efforts of the government at fighting corruption in the country and how well members of the public had been knowledgeable in reporting corruption crimes to the appropriate authorities.
According to him, “It would be highly impossible to discuss this important topic without the input of the representatives of the prominent anti-graft bodies in the country talking about the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“They would be shedding light to various government efforts aimed at curbing the menace of corruption and the various mechanisms put in place for members of the public to report corruption crimes.”
Adeniran defined corruption as an anti-social attitude awarding improper privileges contrary to legal and moral norms and impairs the authorities’ capacity to secure the welfare of all citizens.
He stressed: “Corruption in Nigeria is a constant phenomenon. In 2012, Nigeria was estimated to have lost over $400 billion to corruption since its independence. According to Wikipedia, the rise of public administration and the discovery of oil and natural gas are two major events believed to have led to the sustained increase in the incidence of corrupt practices in the country.
“The government has made efforts to minimise corruption through the enactment of laws and the enforcement of integrity systems, but with little success. Greed, ostentatious lifestyle, customs, and people’s attitudes are believed to have led to corruption.
“Another root cause is tribalism. Friends and kinsmen seeking favour from officials can impose strains on the ethical disposition of the official as these kinsmen see government officials as holding avenues for their survival and gain.
“The idea of focusing on issues of national importance, policies and activities and gathering people to discuss it, is anchored on our determination to ensure that the common man on the street is not short changed by government policies and encourage an all-embracing, all-inclusive implementation of government’s policies so as to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state.
“As I have always pointed out, it should be noted that the forum is not meant only for public servants, as it will also engage major service providers like electricity and communication providers, regulatory agencies, etc., from time to time as the occasion demands.”
Adeniran informed that the CDHR and CACOL’s activities have for long been funded with subscriptions and donations from affiliates, members and patrons, even as he solicited support for the organisations.
He stated that the two bodies would like to do more in the service of humanity and are ready to partner with relevant government agencies and fraternal organisations to ensure that they continue to be the voice for the hapless citizens of the country as a whole.”
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In the keynote address, Mrs. Florence Bariboluka who represented Mr Kabir Elelu, the ICPC Resident Commissioner, in Lagos, while commending the efforts of the CDHR and CACOL for bringing people together to discuss the subject of corruption, maintained that it is not true that Nigeria cannot fight corruption cannot be defeated because of of cultural and social differences.
She said that corruption is the abuse of trusted power for personal gains and that it includes bribery and fraud, stressing that the ICPC has been involved in the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases as well as carrying out system reviews.
Mrs Bariboluka stressed: “We educate the public on the fight against corruption. Corruption is not good. It does not augur well for the people and the country as it engenders evil.”
On the effects of corruption, she listed the high unemployment rate in the country, creation of education gaps between citizens, dwindling finances for public works leading to deterioration of public facilities such as schools, hospitals, and poor services of government agencies.
The ICPC top official lamented that in the fight against corruption, there is the tendency for agencies to pursue small thieves and fraudsters when huge embezzlers go unpunished, even with the several laws enacted to ensure the reduction of corruption in the country.
Mrs Bariboluka stressed that apart from investigation and prosecution of corrupt public officials, the ICPC has been doing a lot to make people aware of the bad effects of corruption.
She maintained that the agency is not lagging in reporting corruption cases, although it does not engage in media trials of people under investigation. She also informed that it is not only the lawmakers that engage in budget padding, which she said is common even in the executive arms of the government and in the private sector.
Mrs Bariboluka also noted that although there is lack of political will by individuals and the leadership to fight corruption, people should not be afraid to use available channels including dedicated lines to report suspected corruption cases.
Concluding, she asked: “Are we ready to fight corruption? Yes. Are we ready to report corruption? Yes. We have a reporting system. The fight against corruption can be achieved.”
She informed that the ICPC has such social platforms as facebook, instagram and toll-free lines through which the agency could be contacted, even as she added that the agency’s staff are comfortable, though they are not adequate.
Under the current economic situation in the country, Mrs Bariboluka maintained that for families to cope without engaging in corrupt practices, people should have self discipline and live within their means. She added that if people cannot afford fees in certain schools, they should give their wards to schools they can afford.
ACP Paul Okafor, in his contribution, said: “When the head is right, the whole body will be right. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is against corruption. Everybody in the police is falling in line. In every 12, there must be a Judas. When one egg is bad, people notice that one bag egg. People who know me know that I avoid corruption.
“The war against corruption is a collective thing. If there is no giver, there is no taker. Refuse to give and report the giver. I have fought corruption and I preach against it. We must all fight to curb corruption. If not, it will destroy the nation.”
Mr Aruna Ayodeji, a Director, Office of Political and Legislative and Civic Engagement, Lagos State government, lamented that people deliberately short circuit the system and every regulation put in place to check corruption.
He said: “Our office provides Citizen Gate to people to ventilate whatever they have in mind and report whatever they want to the government. The reporting system is discouraging to individuals. Once they do not get feedback immediately, they get discouraged.”
He, however, urged the citizens to use all available platforms provided by his department to ensure that they report cases of corruption and be rest assured that their report will be attended to.
Rotimi OLaide, Second Vice Chairman, Agbado/Oke-Odo CDC, Lagos, who maintained that the N70,000 National Minimum Wage is not enough if the country wants to fight corruption. He lamented that the amount is not enough for the least worker to feed the family, and still take care of transportation, housing and education. He added that if people are p[aid more, it will help to reduce corruption, stressing, “We need a better Nigeria.”
Yomi Davies an executive of both Onigbongbo CDC and CDA, urged people at the grassroots to be interested in what is happening in government, even as he urged those in the CDC and CDA not to see themselves as politicians, but more as servants of their people at the grassroots and be able to bridge the gap between the government and the people,
Akintunde Adedeji, the Lead Advocate, Access To Advocacy and Rights of the People, stated: “there is a conflict of responsibility and duty of the ICPC, and EFCC. EFCC is more visible in anti-corruption matters. The EFCC is more concerned in edia trials of suspects, while the ICPC is relatively silent.
“We should see anti-corruption as a lifestyle, which should start from the home. We should inculcate anti-corruption in the lives of people.”
In his closing remark, Comrade Adeniran stated: “If corruption cannot be totally eradicated, it can be reduced. Any act of dishonesty is corruption. Let us imbibe the right attitude in life.”
