NIGERIA: The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said people can get away with almost anything in Nigeria if they have the right political connections.
Sanusi made the statement while speaking at the public presentation of ‘Unexplained Wealth: A Trilogy of Nigerian Financial Law,’ a three-volume work authored by anti-corruption lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), reports Channels TV.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor said reviewing existing laws to identify loopholes and address the issue of unexplained wealth was important, but stressed that stronger implementation of the laws was equally necessary.
According to him, Nigeria already has institutions and courts empowered to identify and prosecute corruption cases, but the effectiveness of the anti-corruption fight depends largely on how those institutions operate.
“But like I said, the laws are one thing. Even the existing laws we have need to be implemented better. You have institutions that are supposed to identify corrupt people and prosecute them. You have courts that are supposed to do it.”
Sanusi alleged that political considerations sometimes influence the handling of corruption cases, with some suspects allegedly escaping prosecution because of their political connections.
“We have seen in this country people who are facing corruption charges who basically just get those charges dropped because they belong to the right political environment or have the right political support.”
He also raised concerns about the use of legal processes in corruption-related cases, citing the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as an example.
“An example is my brother Nasir El-Rufai who’s been denied bail. He’s been in detention for seven months, not having been convicted for anything using the courts.”
The Emir said situations such as this could raise questions about whether corruption cases were being pursued strictly to uphold the law or were becoming part of wider political battles.
“So people begin to wonder is this really a fight against corruption or is it a political battle?”
Sanusi said political leaders, public office holders and members of the judiciary had a responsibility to ensure that laws were applied for the purposes for which they were enacted.
He argued that reviewing laws alone would not be sufficient without addressing weaknesses within institutions responsible for enforcing them.
“Now until the politicians and those who control political office and the judiciary decide that they are going to use these laws for the purpose for which they are set up, we’re not going to get anywhere.”
The Emir said the review of Nigeria’s legal framework on unexplained wealth was a positive development, but stressed that institutional reform and effective enforcement were equally important in the fight against corruption.
He concluded that without stronger institutions and impartial enforcement, political connections could continue to undermine the effectiveness of anti-corruption laws.
“Otherwise anyone knows that you can get away with anything if you have the right political connections.”
