A Commonwealth representative, Ms Katalaina Sapolu, on Friday declared that those found guilty of stealing Nigeria’s public funds should be ashamed of themselves instead complaining of rights violation in the government’s quest to get back stolen monies from them.
Sapolu, who serves as the Director of Rule of Law Division of the Commonwealth made the declaration while speaking with journalists at the three-day ‘National Stakeholders Workshop on the Recovered Assets Workshop’ in Abuja jointly put together by the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, PACAC, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Sapolu, earlier on Monday and Tuesday, led the Commonwealth delegation to the PACAC’s ‘Workshop on Roles of Judges in the Fight Against Corruption,’ at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.
The Monday opening ceremony was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, judges at various levels of court, and other notable figures.
Sapolu pointed out that it was not justifiable for looters to complain of rights violation when asked to return their stolen wealth.
She said, “What I can speak of is what was expressed at the workshop which is what I can say is from the horse’s mouth.
“There were lawyers who spoke, there were judges who spoke and they said most of the suspects and their highly-paid lawyers would come to court and they would raise, of course, as any lawyer would, depending on the instruction from their clients, the fundamental rights issue.
“But I think the consensus view is that if you steal money, if you are looting money through corrupt conduct, it’s not yours, and the government is trying to recover the proceeds, what fundamental right is being violated?”
Sapolu assured of the Commonwealth support on Nigeria’s efforts to get back all its assets looted by corrupt officials because President Buhari has demonstrated strong political will to fight corruption.
She noted that moves by previous governments to recover Nigeria’s looted funds failed because various countries lacked trust in the preparedness of the administrations to utilise the funds.
She said, “This international cooperation is very important; and I would have to say that from my own experience it is really that trust.
“This is because much of the reluctance or the reason that is given by other countries is that, ‘are we returning the money to safe hands to be reused for the benefit of the people of the countries?’
“So, I strongly believe that with the new political leadership and the political will that has been demonstrated internationally, it will work. It will help a lot.”
Sapolu said that the new Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, had made anti-corruption part of the organisation’s priorities.
She added, “I refer to the ‘tackling corruption together conference’ held by the Commonwealth in London in May. “It was held the day before the London Summit that was hosted by the then Prime Minister David Cameron at the time and President Buhari was our special guest at the Commonwealth conference.
“He spoke very passionately and very inspiringly about the priority his government is giving to combating corruption and he said ‘more importantly we want the recovery of stolen assets.’
“So, it was discussed between him and my Secretary-General; we have a new Secretary-General at Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland (QC), and one of her priorities is tackling corruption.
“We are here to further the agreement between the Secretary-General and the President that the Commonwealth will give its support to Nigeria in fighting corruption.”
Source: Daily Post
