READ: Money laundering: New law planned to target corrupt officials - BBC
It appears sometimes as if the laws in Nigeria are deliberately crafted to cause confusion. Some agencies are set up to battle each other (turf war). A typical case in point is when your are leaving the country and you have many agencies checking your documents or luggage at departure point. One person should not ask how much money you have, another person how many dried fish you are carrying, another asking you if you have local art work (I know I am being a little melodramatic but it is done to express disgust).
I wonder why Nigeria has ICPC and EFCC when either one will do the job comfortably. I have repeatedly said that Nigeria is living a lie. If Nigeria is not living a lie why would a person who earns N1 million a year live in a house that is worth N100 million, own fleet of vehicles and afford to send his/her children abroad for education? In many countries such lifestyle will draw the attention of law enforcement officials. The individual would be followed (undercover) until the source of the wealth is determined.
There may be legitimate reason for the wealth and once determined the law enforcement officials will back off. If on the other hand the individual is corruptly enriching himself/herself he or she will face the law and explain the source of his/her wealth. Most of the time this will be done without the individual knowing. The requirement that somebody will have to petition to the law enforcement officials before they take action is ludicrous and defeatist.
If Nigeria wants to truly fight corruption, they know what to do. No country is without corruption. The difference is the level of tolerance. If we have to graph the level of tolerance of corrupt practices especially by public officials on the scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the most tolerant and 10 being the least tolerant, Nigeria will be anywhere between 1 and 3 while China will be anywhere between 8 and 10. While China will execute a public official for corruption, Nigeria will promote him/her from governor to senator or vice versa.
If Nigeria wants to fight corruption they know what to do. They will make it difficult for these corrupt politicians to jump from one party to another depending on the party in power thereby rubbishing the power of the people to use the ballot to check the excesses of the politicians. They will be banned from overseas medical treatment that they denied the people at home. They will be denied the little comforts they deny the people.
If Nigeria wants to fight corruption they know what to do. They will make it difficult for these corrupt politicians to jump from one party to another depending on the party in power thereby rubbishing the power of the people to use the ballot to check the excesses of the politicians. They will be banned from overseas medical treatment that they denied the people at home. They will be denied the little comforts they deny the people.
There are two things that human beings have in common and they are (1) the first law of nature which is self preservation (Nigerian politicians know how to self preserve) and (2) closely related to number 1 is that people do not give up privileges unless they are fought or forced to give them up. Corruption can be fought and can't fight back if the genuine laws that are meant to stop or at least reduce corruption are enacted and law enforcement officials who are willing to enforce the law deployed.
People are busy and do not have time to read lengthy write ups. I have written a lot on this topic and some could be found on my website.
Amadiebube
People are busy and do not have time to read lengthy write ups. I have written a lot on this topic and some could be found on my website.
Amadiebube
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