Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign or publish an Unexplained Wealth Order as soon as possible to enhance the fight against corruption.
Ndume made the announcement on Saturday in Ibadan, while speaking at the University of Ibadan’s 2021 Distinguish Leadership Lecture Series.
The lecture, titled “The Unexplained Wealth and the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria,” was conducted at the university’s Trenchard hall, according to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).
The Senator, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee on the Army, also urged President Buhari to persuade the National Assembly to enact the Proceeds of Crime Bill “regardless of the consequences.”
The Senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Army, also urged President Buhari to prevail on the national assembly to pass the Proceeds of Crime Bill in time “regardless of bickering on the management of the proceeds recovered”.
He said there was a need to look at the incidence of corruption, “most especially, those occasioned by public officers who are in trust of public wealth.
“Our crusade against this monster (corruption) should start from politicians, top public servants, civil servants down to local governments’ staff.
“For the perpetrators, it is not difficult to identify the tendencies exhibited by these officers; acquiring landed property in and outside the country, having fat bank deposits, buying expensive cars, or marrying so many wives”, he said.
Ndume further said that the fight against corruption was a fight for the nation and must start from the top to the bottom.
“It changes our good culture, it breeds injustice and impunity, every citizen has a role to play.”
Speaking further on how to address the menace, Ndume said the government must go a step further to protect the whistleblowers.
He said that the whistleblower policy must be revisited; stressing motivation for whistleblowers shouldn’t just be the reward, but patriotism.
According to him, the whistleblowers must be active at all levels inclusive of local areas, adding that the blowers must not be scared but be protected by law at whatever cost.
He called on relevant anti-corruption agencies such as Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, and Department of State Security to take whistleblowers seriously, carry out investigation on whistleblowing reports “however casual it may be”.
The lawmaker, however, said that whistleblower alleged to have lied should be taken to court.
He said that the Code of Conduct Bureau owed it a duty to request every public officer to make a declaration of asset periodically and should verify the claims periodically or when complaints are lodged.
The lawmaker also charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other relevant agencies of government to embark on vigorous sensitization against corruption.
Sen. Ndume used the opportunity of the event to announce the donation of N1million as a scholarship to assist some indigent students of the institution.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Prof Kayode Adebowale, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, said that the institution was organically tackling corruption.
Almost every undergraduate student at the University, he claims, takes an Ethics course, either as a required general studies course or as a regular department-based course.
He stated that the university anticipated that students’ exposure to the courses would go a long way toward instilling anti-corruption attitudes in them.
Three serving senators attended the lecture: Olubunmi Adetunbi, who represents Ekiti North; Sen. Fatai Buhari, who represents Oyo North; and Sen. Kola Balogun, who represents Oyo South.
Ada Peter
