Alhaji Lai Mohammed appears confused over the corruption fight

Lai Mohammed

 Alhaji Lai Mohammed the Minister for Information in Nigeria seems to be confused over what he has described as government's clear strategy for fighting corruption. The question on the minds of most Nigerians is: Is government's anti-corruption policy geared towards deterring people from stealing money, or is it programmed towards recovering as much stolen money as possible?
The Minister said government strategy has proven to be effective since it has led to, the recovery of 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from one former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office.
He said the federal government is not just fixated on prosecution alone, but is also taking preventive measures to make corruption unattractive.
Alhaji Mohammed listed the strict enforcement of the Treasury Singles Account (TSA), which has largely reduced the diversion of government funds into various secret accounts, and the constant fishing out of ghost workers in the public service, which many states are now adopting, as some of the preventive measures against corruption.
He however said some other measures have been perfected to strengthen the anti-corruption fight, adding that the measures include the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery and the Asset Tracing Committee; the setting up of an Asset Register, and the Whistle Blower Policy.
The Minister also announced the plan by the government – working through the Code of Conduct Bureau – to commence, starting in 2017, a trial run of electronic asset declaration to facilitate compliance.
But the minister appears to have contradicted himself. Since the fight against corruption begun government has not been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that those brought before the courts under allegations of corruption are really guilty. No conviction has been obtained and a lot of secrecy surrounds many of those who are returning the money they have stolen. The plea bargain has constantly been used by people who have been caught and charged with corruption. The belief appears to be anyone who has stolen money who can return same would be let off the hook with no charges to answer to.
Observers believe that this approach would rather encourage corruption rather than deter it.