Ribadu's plight may worsen Nigeria's graft rating, says Transparency
From Kelechi Okoronkwo, Abuja
AN international anti-corruption organisation, the Transparency International (TI) yesterday warned that Nigeria's Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which improved in 2008, might drop in the next rating if the country continues alleged persecution of anti-corruption crusaders.
The TI specifically accused the government of harassing the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stating that such actions meted out to Ribadu could worsen the country's corruption rating.
The Secretary-General of Transparency in Nigeria (TN), an affiliate of the TI, Mr. Osita Ogbu, gave the warning in Abuja yesterday while releasing this year's Bribe Payers' Index (BPI) to mark the world anti-corruption day.
The 2008 TI rating on BPI showed that Belgium and Canada were the highest bribe-giving countries among the 22 countries sampled. Below Belgium and Canada with 8.8 points are as follows: Netherlands 8.7, Switzerland 8.7, Germany 8.6, United Kingdom 8.6, Japan 8.6, Austria 8.5, France, Singapore and United States of America are in the same bracket of 8.1 points.
At the rear is Russia with 5.9 points. Ahead Russia are China 6.5, Mexico 6.6, India 6.8 while South Africa, South Korea and Taiwan came 14th position with 7.5 points.
Nigeria is not on the list because it is not recognised as a country, which operates multinational investments and could not be listed among countries, which pay bribes to make ways for their businesses in foreign countries.
On Ribadu, Ogbu said: "Transparency in Nigeria is concerned about the persecution of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the immediate past chairman of the EFCC. He was removed from the office in controversial circumstances. His removal from office was painful because it takes unusual commitment, zeal and courage to achieve the feat that the EFCC achieved under the chairmanship of Ribadu. The manner of his removal calls for questions on the independence of the EFCC.
"His removal from office was followed by his demotion from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) to the Deputy Commissioner of Police on allegation of having been wrongly promoted. We are aware that under Nigerian civil service rules, there is room for accelerated promotion for exceptional performance. And the authorities of the Nigeria Police have had occasion to reward their men and officers with accelerated promotion for exceptional performance.
"Though other people were demoted with Ribadu, this is the widely held perception that Ribadu was the target. Recently, Ribadu was harassed and ridiculed during the graduation ceremony of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies."
Ogbu noted that although public servants would be held accountable for their actions while in office, there were unseen hands frustrating the anti-corruption war in the country.
"It is a matter that we should take seriously that people who have siphoned billions of Naira of the public fund have been allowed to continue having their liberty, some are even holding public offices. Their cases have been reduced to a playboy affair. It is not the culture of the Transparency International to name names but their names are often published in the papers. They are not looking for them.
"What happened in Jos recently shows that we have not learnt anything and that we have not forgotten anything either. Why should elections in the country be a do-or-die affair? It is because the people going there are not going to serve. The salary of public servants in Nigeria is almost the least in the world while the wages for politicians are the highest in the world. That is why people are fighting to get to power at all costs.
"Transparency in Nigeria calls on the Federal Government to take steps to stop the harassment, intimidation, ridiculing and persecution of Nuhu Ridadu as these actions are scaring anti-corruption war in the country," Ogbu added.
Among the issues the TI wants the Nigerian government to engage speedily are the investigation and prosecution of the people involved in the reported multinational companies bribery, implementation of the United Nations verdict on convention against corruption, trial of former governors accused of corruption.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri on Monday expressed her resolve to continue the anti-corruption fight.
