“If our extant laws in any way make a lopsided vesting of such powers on a tier of government at the expense of another, we must be reminded that man makes laws; laws do not make man. The essence of law making is the good of man. If any law works contrary to the over ridding essence of law making, which is the good of man, such law should, without apology, be amended as a matter of superlative urgency.
If this is done, ours will be a corruption-free society that will, indeed, be a catalyst to the national development” – Ahmad Raji SAN.
My sympathy for the learned men of law and their contributions to the good ascendancy in this nation has never been disillusioned anytime I radiate my self-confidence in their performances.
I could not but to commend the worthy contributions of any lawyer even the one that is graduating in the next hours. And I therefore concluded, if judiciary could be giving honours that are due to them and we do what is expected of us as a nation, by legislating purposeful laws, corruptions would be a thing of the past.
Justice is the bedrock of Islam. On 16th of November, 2015, I was invited by my erudite brother Barr. Abdulwahab Muhammad, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada branch, Abuja, to the branch Law week 2015 which was held at FCT Agency for Mass Education on 13th-17 November, 2015.
I was astonished with the echelon of what I witnessed during the opening ceremony of the law week. In fact, to start with, the time allocated for the commencement of the program was 2: 30pm, and the program started exactly as scheduled irrespective of who is absent or not. Then, I realised I was in the midst of learned men. I therefore patiently followed the proceedings of the law week, hence, my decision to re-disseminate some of the fundamental messages at the occasion.
Corruption is undoubtedly one of the greatest social diseases in contemporary times. It has various meaning, but, it is usually not difficult to recognise.
The negative impact of corruption in the society, may assume such proportion capable of threatening the foundation of society and justice. The economy growth of a nation may be stunted by corruption. It may also occur when one looks at various act of corruption practice vis a vis the effect it produced on the economy. For instance, where corruptions take the form of tax evasion or the improper use of discretionary tax exemptions, the resultant effect on the economy is loss of revenue.
This invariable leads to lower quality of public infrastructure and services, It may also affect the compulsion of Government expenditure as corrupt Government official are more likely to chose to undertake types of expenditure that allows them to collect bribe or manipulate price. Corruption in the form of diversion of funds as tendency to discourage investor, and thus May reduce the effectiveness of aid flows and contributes to the unconscionable growth of state dept and the decline of budgetary revenues.It has been a stumbling block to the growth of small business and social endeavours.
These are the words of the Chairman of Gwagwalada branch of Nigeria Bar Association. Alhaji Abdulwahab A. Muhammad esq. in his welcome address on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the branch 2015 law week, which was held on 16th November, 2015 at Gwagwalada.
He used the occasion to inform the guest that this branch is one of the branch of the NBA created less than four (4) years ago but the branch is fast growing. However, the branch is still battling with certain problem which he passionately appeal to the distinguished guests to assist in those regards. The branch is desirous of building a befitting bar centre. A piece of land for this purpose has been acquired. However the branch has not been able to commence work due to paucity of fund. He said on behalf of members of the branch he appeal to our guests to generously donate towards the building of the branch bar centre.
The executive committee of the branch are planning to establish a branch library for the benefit of entire members.
The key note address was delivered by Mr Ahmad Raji SAN, in his paper said the challenges with under-developed and developing nations, however, is not just corruption, but corruption with impunity, impunity in the sense that corrupt people not only go scot free, but are celebrated.
What an irony! Cases that come to mind are those of Mobutu Sese Seko and the Nigerian case of someone who merely got a painless smack on the back in the name of a criminal sentenced for corruption to the tune of billions of Naira pensioners’ money. What a travesty! With example like the pension fund’s case people are motivated to throw caution to the wind in their dealings. After all, what is good for the goose is good for the gander, they say.
The foregoing, not withstanding, there is no doubt that corruption is not the exclusive preserve of underdeveloped and poor nations. Rich nations are not left out of the quagmire. As stated in a publication of the global issues on corruption.
‘…..corruption is not something limited to third word despots. Rich countries too have been involved in corrupt practices around the world.’
He further supported his evidences from the statement of Prof. Neild: ‘ many western convert and overt military operation were motivated, in part at least, by the view, which may have been fearfully exaggerated, that the west supplies of raw materials and oil threatened by communist intrusion into third world countries.
A feeling of vulnerability was understandable. The Soviet Union…. Was largely self sufficient…; the west, in need of increasing supplies for its growing industrial production, depended heavily on imports from third world countries…. Western governments used diplomacy plus overt and covert military operations to counter the communist. Meanwhile, western firms paid rulers to obtain concessions to extract oil and minerals’
He also quoted the submission of Dr. Hawley who listed a number of impacts that multinationals’ corrupt practices have on the third world or developing countries which including the following:
1. They undermine development and exacerbate inequality and poverty;
2. They disadvantage smaller domestic firms;
3. They transfer money that could be put towards poverty eradication into the hands of the rich;
4. They distort decision making in favour of projects that benefits the few rather than the many; and
5. They also increase debt; benefits the company, not the country; bypass local democratic processes; damage the environments; circumvent legislation; and promotes weapon sales.
He refreshed our memories back to the president of federal republic of Nigeria inaugural speech on 29th May, 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo who resolved that his government will tackle the menace of corruption and abuse of power and that resolution gave birth to the ICPC Act. On the 13th June, 2000 when he signed the ICPC bill into law, he also state thus:
‘With corruption, there can be no sustainable development no political stability. By breeding and feeding on inefficiency, corruption invariably strangles the system of social organization. In fact, corruption is literally the antithesis of development and progress’
He listed the causes of corruption as lack of transparency, poor working conditions, unemployment, a culture of impunity, unjust stratification in society, a culture of selective justice and poverty.
On effect of corruption in our nation he said this has crippled the image of the country. He said bad reputation to our nationality, a nose-diving economy is witnessed as a result; inflation that led to undue hardship is of increase, low standard of living that we live in our country like a slave, poor exchange rate has crippled the entire local small scale businesses, abject poverty led to many insane living persons, political apathy among the citizenry led to wrong leadership with no result.
He said impact of corruption on our collective development can be better understand from global issues publications that stated as follow:
Corruption affects the poorest the most, in rich or poor nations, though all elements of society are affected in some way as corruption undermines political developments, democracy, economic developments, the environment, people’s health and more’
In his ways of proffer solutions to corruption in our nation, he said its better solved from the sources of the corruptions. That is to have a culture of transparency, improved working conditions, provision of employments, prevalence of the rule of law and egalitarianism in the administration of Justice, reformation of panel laws, death penalty or total forfeiture of proceeds of corruption, change of burden of proof, taking the anti-corruption searchlight beyond the public sector to the private sector, most especially our financial institutions.
The chairman also used the occasion to appreciated the president and the entire national officers of NBA, all the senior advocates, Mr Mahmud Magaji SAN, Mr. S.I Ameh S.A.N, Mr Okunlade Olorundare SAN, Mr A.B Mahmud SAN, J.K Gadzama SAN and Mr. Hassan Liman SAN the grand Kadi of THE Sharia court of appeal, the entire judge of the high court present, kadis of the shariah court of appeal, Magistrates and CJ of the FCT Hon Justice Ishaq Bello.
The occasion was attended by Justice I.U Bello, Hon CJ; High Court of FCT, represented by Hon Justice Garba, high Court judge, Hon Justice Mwada Balami presiding judge, FCT High Court Gwagwalada Division, Augustine Alegeh SAN, president Nigeria Bar Association represented by Mazi Afam Osigwe, General Secretary NBA and also represented himself, Kadis of Shariah court of appeal, justices of high court, SANs, traditional rulers and notable personalities amongst other. The occasion was one of the best of its kind.