HURIWA Knocks ICPC Boss for Attributing Nigeria’s Suffering to Corruption

HURIWA Knocks ICPC Boss for Attributing Nigeria’s Suffering to Corruption

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), Adamu Aliyu, for attributing Nigerians’ suffering to corruption.

In a statement by its national coordinator, HURIWA argued that it is misguided to blame economic hardship solely on corruption when institutional failures by anti-graft agencies have created opportunities for large-scale corruption by successive government officials.

The right group believed that Mr. Aliyu’s statement is incomplete and diversionary since he did not apportion blame appropriately to government officials, including successive presidents and the current officeholder, who are responsible for imposing economic difficulties on Nigerians.

The group noted that although the ICPC and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were established many years ago by President Olusegun Obasanjo, leadership failures within these two anti-corruption bodies have enabled corrupt government officials to continue operating with impunity. Despite this, little or nothing has been done to ensure swift justice against those committing crimes against humanity.

HURIWA recalled that during a recent visit from members of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Mr. Aliyu stated that it was crucial for Nigerians to adhere to policies aimed at curbing challenges faced in executing constituency projects effectively. He also advised CJID members on how they could use Freedom of Information Act requests as leverage if any agency refused disclosure.

The group  feel strongly about what they perceive as omissions in Mr. Aliyu’s statement: his failure explicitly to mention successive governments since 1999 – but most importantly Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate past administration – which brought about economic problems through corrupt enrichment with public funds alongside poor economic policies compounded by political interference resulting in lack of independence within anti-graft systems; all contributing significantly towards ongoing hardships experienced across Nigeria today.

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