The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership has expressed concern on the silence of the Federal Government in releasing the comprehensive list of alleged looters it promised
earlier.
The Centre, in a statement by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, divulged its worries on the unstated reason for the FG’s delay in carrying out expected actions against these alleged economic ravagers as well as the sudden but loud silence on the release of the elaborately advertised and much awaited third looters’ list.
CACOL expressed surprise as to why the FG, which had earlier promised to release more lists, which would be more comprehensive and holistic-containing more names than the two lists previously released-has suddenly developed
cold feet
It lamented that the FG was yet to carry out any feasible action whatsoever, in respect of curtailing the issue of treasury looting with reckless abandon, which could only send a vivid message that encourage intending looters to intensify the evil acts.
It said as much as it recognised and commended the efforts of the government in exposing the alleged engineers of socio-political rot that has irredeemably handicapped the economy of Nigeria and put posterity in a web of endless debts, it did not subscribe to the apparent showcase of negligence by the Federal Government in bringing looters to book.
The Centre cited the court appearance of the former South African president, Jacob Zuma over charges of corruption as a message from the South Africans that the law is not a respecter of
anybody.
“That in just one month from the resignation of the Ex-President Jacob Zuma, trials have been instituted against him and one can see clearly, by the sheer weight of the charges preferred, that his prosecutors meant serious business.
“This is a graphic index of a system truly committed to fighting corruption hands
down.”
The CACOL boss further stated that “releasing names will not fight corruption; diligent trials and deterrent convictions
will.”
The CACOL Chairman also suggested that, “just as NEMA suspended its board of directors on allegations of corruption, all those who are currently serving in public offices and are on the list, be put on suspension pending when they are tried and convicted, if
found guilty.”
