The Federal Government has said it will henceforth insist on enforcement of sanctions by professional bodies against lawyers, bankers and brokers indicted for corruption.
President Buhari said this in Abuja on Tuesday during the Democracy Day anti-corruption summit titled, ‘Curbing electoral spending: A panacea for public corruption,’ organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He stated that his administration was taking stock of the progress recorded so far by the anti-graft campaign and devising new strategies to address existing challenges.
Buhari explained that the outcome of the process, which had been initiated by the Presidential Advisory Committee and all anti-corruption agencies in the country, would serve as the basis for more effort by his administration to, among other things, strengthen the capacity of the EFCC and other anti-graft bodies.
The President said, “I am pleased to inform you that this process has already started with the recent interaction by the Presidential Advisory Committee and all anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.
The outcome of the interaction, among others, shall serve as the basis for a more concerted effort by this administration to close existing legislative loopholes, facilitate collaboration with the judiciary and strengthen the criminal justice system, enforce effective asset declaration by public office holders, ensure sanctions by professional bodies against lawyers, bankers, brokers, public officials, and other individuals facilitating corrupt practices and ensure comprehensive support and protection to whistle-blowers, witnesses and victims of corruption.”
Buhari added that his government would insist on unconditional return of looted assets kept abroad and strengthen international cooperation through information and mutual legal assistance.
