Police Force is corrupt - Police Affairs Minister

Lanre Adewole and Tunde Oyesina


 *400 corruption cases pending in courts - EFCC
*Police'll maintain roadblocks for now - Onovo




MINISTER of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri, on Wednesday in Abuja admitted that the Police Force was corrupt, even as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, disclosed that over 400 corruption cases were pending in courts, with 50 of them being high profile cases. The duo spoke at the public presentation of a handbook, entitled Anti-Corruption Handbook for Nigerian Youths, written by Tabi H. Joda. Farida, at the event, said the commission had recovered over N3 billion from tax evaders, which had been turned over to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).


The minister, in his remark, said "unless we admit our disease and affliction, there will be no remedy.
"There is corruption in Nigeria and in the Police Force, which should be a frontline agency in fighting corruption.
"The Police Force has accepted that it has been undermined and under-funded for many years. We have embarked on a deliberate funding and reformation of police. The fight against corruption should be a business of everybody."


The EFCC boss, in her speech lamented the slow pace of prosecution of corruption cases, citing the trial of former Governors Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, which started four years ago; Saminu Turaki of Jigawa and Joshua Dariye of Plateau states, which started three years ago.
She noted that the commission had secured over 100 convictions and recovered approximately $3.5 billion.
According to her, "we have over 400 cases in court, including over 50 high profile case. Only recently, we achieved conviction in a very high profile case involving the chairman and members of the board of directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).


"We have advanced our technology to match the sophistication of cyber criminals by deploying Project Eagle Claw.
"Just last month, a strategic initiative on our part cut down between 50 to 70 per cent incidence of advance fee fraud. At our instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a circular regulating the modality for remittance of stolen money into Nigeria.


"These achievements have caused our global corruption index to jump from 0.5 points to 2.7 points, leaving us at 121st out of 179 countries."
She called for laws that would enable the commission to confiscate the assets of the accused and convert them to government's assets upon their conviction.
Speaking at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, said the fight against corruption remained a must win, adding that the Federal Government was ready to collaborate with the judiciary ensure corruption was stamped out of the country.



"We are not unaware of the challenges militating against the fight, especially of those trying to frustrate it. We shall make sure they do not succeed," he said.
The chairman on the occasion, who is the Director-General, Nigerian Law School, Dr Tahir Mamman, said emphasis should be placed on value system and not on quest for money, adding that the effect of abuse of resources was the same as that of genocide.


Meanwhile, the Inspector- General of Police, Mr Ogbonna Onovo, has said road blocks will remain in the country until the police are provided with effective communication system and vehicles.
Onovo said this in Abuja, on Wednesday, at an interactive session with members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
"As soon as our communication system is perfected and we have vehicles, there won't be any need for check points.

"I will call for patience and say that we are not completely blocking the road. The bad policeman who extorts money from the public stains the image of the police and we will punish anyone caught in the act.
"Road blocks are not there for extortion," he said.

Onovo noted that the issue of check points had become a vexatious one in Nigeria, noting that they were supposed to be erected only in emergency cases.
"People have complained over the years that they have become extortion points. We have made spirited efforts to dislocate them, but people started clamouring for their return, especially in cases of stolen vehicles," he said.