The overwhelming calls for the conveyance of a sovereign national conference  from notable Nigerians to address the myriads of challenges confronting this nation has necessitated the move for the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by the National Assembly to accommodate the yearnings of the apologists of the national conference.

Amending the constitution to meet the need of every Nigerian may be a herculean task due to the multifaceted nature of human wants. People tend to become cynical about the constitution review benefitting one region or ethnic group more than the others do. In spite of this, the constitution review is the alternative way to resolving our differences, if the Sovereign National Conference is still premature to be born.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) strongly supports the recommended review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are of the opinion that the proposed constitution review would address some, if not all the challenges bedeviling this nation, if done sincerely. To charter a better course for this nation, the aspects of the constitution we hope could be improved on are as follows:

Devolution of Power: One area of the constitution that needs to be reviewed is the concentration of power and resources at the centre. The constitution has so much empowered the centre to the detriment of the states and the peripheries. Since the resources belong to the states, the constitution should empower the states and the local government councils to harness and manage their resources for the development of their regions. Decentralization is the only factor that can bring development to the people at the grassroots, and alleviate poverty in the polity since the states and the peripheries are closer to the people.

We discovered that the allocation from the centre has made most state to become lazy and unproductive, hence, the decentralization of power would encourage states to harness resources at their disposal instead of waiting for the handouts from the federal government.

Likewise, the Section 162 subsection 5 should be improved upon to allow Local Government Councils have their own accounts in which the allocation from the federal government is paid instead of the federal government paying into the states’ accounts. The payments into states’ accounts have been characterized by arbitrary deductions of local government funds by the state governments.

Independence of Anti-graft Agencies: The current shape of the anti-graft agencies should likewise be improved upon. As contained in the Third Schedule Part 1 of the 1999 constitution, the anti-graft agencies should be part of the Federal Executive Bodies. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its sister body, Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC) should be enshrined in the constitution as independent agencies that would be getting their funds directly from the federal government and reports directly to the president without interference from the Minister of Justice or the Attorney-General of the Federation.

In addition, the chair of the EFCC should not be a serving officer. Experience has shown that most of these serving officers are usually wary of their career, so sometimes may not want to step on toes. We suggest that the head could be a retired police officer, though the age factor should be considered, or an independent personality in our polity who has an impeccable pedigree.

Immunity Clause: CACOL acquiesces to the sustenance of immunity clause to accord the president/state governors concentrate on their duties. We opine that removing immunity clause could distract the president/state governors because opposition parties may use that to institute criminal charges against them. However, if the immunity clause would be removed, we recommend that the clause should be there that only civil proceedings could be instituted against the president/governors, in which anybody could represent them in the court.

In case of any criminal indictment, the report of such indictment against the president/governor should be forwarded to the National Assembly/ the state House of Assembly, as the case may be, who could move for the impeachment of the president/governor. However, if the impeachment process is not perfected before the expiration of the president /governor’s tenure, he should not be permitted to travel out of the country close to his tenure expiration and should be handed over to the anti-graft agencies as soon as his tenure comes to an end.

Abuse of legal process: It is no longer news that the Nigerian Judiciary is pervaded with corruption, withdrawal of criminal proceedings against corrupt leaders has become the order of the day. The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) therefore calls for the reviewing of the Section 174 subsection 1(c) that arms the Attorney-General of the Federation with the power to discontinue any criminal proceedings instituted against any authority or person.

Sovereignty: The sovereignty of any state lies with the people, therefore the amendment should recognize the will of the people as the only true will. The amended constitution should vest the power in the people to determine what policy of the government should be sustained or discarded. The popularity of any policy by the government should be tested and the consensus got before being implemented.

Creation of States: Though it is apparent that some regions are under-represented in the scheme of things, CACOL maintains that the creation of new states should not be done with sentiments. Sustenance of the new states should be the first factor to be considered, do the new states have the resources to develop themselves? There is no point creating more states when most of the current 36states are still trying to find their feet, relying heavily on the centre to survive. Nevertheless, we hope that with the devolution of power, the new states would be able to harness their resources for their development.

Indigenization: The 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appears to be gender-biased and patrilineal. The Section 25 and 26 subsection 2(a) of the Constitution says, “The following persons are citizens of Nigeria… any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria.” The constitution amendment should correct this anomaly; a foreign man who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria may be registered as a citizen of Nigeria.

Debo Adeniran

Executive Chairman, CACOL

08037194969

dadnig@yahoo.com

www.deboadeniran.com, www.debo-adeniran.blogspot.com

Friday, May 11, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

The Coalition Against Corruption (CACOL) censured the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Bill 2012, which is before the Rivers State House of Assembly, meant for the benefit of former governors of the state and their deputies, who completed their term in office.

The retirement benefits, as spelt out in the bill, would give each former governor of the state two houses in any area of his choice in Abuja and Rivers State, three brand new cars that would be replaced every three years, 100 per cent of basic salary of the incumbent governor, 300 per cent of basic salary as furniture allowance, 20 per cent for utilities and 10 per cent for entertainment. Aside this largesse, the bill has it that the former governor would be getting eight police officers for personal security, and two officers of the State Security Service including domestic staff that would be paid from the state coffers.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, the Executive Chairman of CACOL Comrade Debo Adeniran, described the unconscionable and frivolous bill as executive wickedness and sheer greed. He noted that the bill is a pointer to the fact that the government does not care about the plight of the common citizens of the state.

Comrade Adeniran affirmed that the bill is an avenue to fritter away tax payers money. He added that the bill would only succeed to legitimately sweep the state funds into the pockets of the ex-looters of the state. ” This bill is planning to reward the lootocrats for milking the state purse dry. This is another way to legitimately steal state fund without anyone raising highbrow,” he said.

Reacting to the puerile ratiocination that the bill would stop the acts of corruption among governors in the state, the anti-corruption crusader disclosed that similar scheme that is in place for ex-presidents of this country has yielded little or no result. He added that the bill would not in anyway curb corruption, but it would rather heighten it.

Comrade Adeniran, however, carpeted Governor Rotimi Amaechi for sponsoring such anti-masses bill, and called on the law makers in Rivers State House of Assembly to shun the bill that wants to open another pipeline to compensate the looters of the state monies.

Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer
11 April, 2012

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) faulted the National Assembly claim that each law maker was allegedly offered N50m bribe to make the third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo feasible.

Reacting to the development emanating from the National Assembly, that Chief Obasanjo allies offered every law maker bribe, after the former president indicted the assembly of sponsoring the bill to favour his third term agenda, the Executive Chairman of CACOL Comrade Debo Adeniran, submitted that the NASS has many questions to answer in order to clear the sleazy storm brewing among the ruling elites in this nation.

“How many people collected the bribe? Who are those that gave out the bribe? How many lawmakers returned theirs and into which account(s)? These are questions to be answered by the lawmakers before they are taken serious,” Comrade Adeniran said.

Speaking further, the anti-corruption crusader rued that it took the lawmakers these years before opening up on the bribery scandal. He stated that an attempt to give or take bribe is an offence punishable under the law of the nation, therefore, the NASS is also an accomplice in this matter, for not blowing the whistle when the bribery was attempted, until the going went sour between the former president and the lawmakers.

He, however, called on the anti-graft agencies in the country, to look into the propriety of the allegations by the lawmakers, and probe the bribery scandal.

Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer
11 April, 2012

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) carpeted the joint Committee of the Senate on the Pensions Probe investigating the police pensions management over the allegation that the members of the Pensions Reform Task Team led by Abdulrasheed Maina tried to bribe the members of the senate committee to soft-pedal on the probe.

The PRTT has earlier indicted the senate committee of been biased and judgmental since the inception of the hearing, when Senator Aloysius Etok, the committee chairman and his members called for the dissolution of the Pensions Reform Task Team over alleged fund mismanagement.

Reacting to the news, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran stated that the revelation of the Senate committee is belated. He stressed that Senator Etok and his men should have blown the whistle when the bribery was attempted, and should not have waited till their reputation is being dragged into the mud before speaking up.

Comrade Adeniran, however, noted with trepidation the allegations and counter allegations that have characterised the various ongoing probes in the National Assembly, and called for utmost caution on part of the lawmakers, so that the objectives of the probes could be achieved. The anti-corruption crusader also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the bribery scandal, and prosecute anyone found culpable.

Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer
12 April, 2012

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) condemned the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies headed by Mr. Stephen Oronsaye.

The Committee recommended the reduction of the existing 263 government’s agencies in the country to 161, with the scrapping of some agencies, out of which are Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and its sister agency, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Comrade Debo Adeniran, the Executive Chairman of the group, described the submissions of the committee as crass. He noted that it is amazing that such recommendation could be made at a time the nation is swimming in the sea of corruption, and she is working tirelessly to redeem her image among the comity of nations.

Stressing further, Comrade Adeniran  faulted the recommendation that the Nigeria Police Force should take up the functions of the EFCC and ICPC. He stated that it is a known fact that the nation’s police force lacks credibility and integrity to take up such gargantuan task, when force is finding it difficult to stamp out corruption in its rank.

He submitted that entrusting corruption fight to the present crop of police is tantamount to annihilation of war against corruption in the country. The anti-corruption crusader  called for the revamp of the police force, if it would live up to its statutory functions.

Comrade Adeniran, however, urged the government to muster enough will to stamp out corruption in every sector of the country by giving more power to the anti-graft agencies, and removing both the EFCC and ICPC from under the control of the Attorney General of the Federation. He also suggested that special courts should be established to try corruption cases, in order to ease the burden of the regular courts.

Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer
17 April, 2012
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Celebrating Ibori’s Final Fall: Waiting for Obasanjo, Awokulehin, Adoke etc

Being the text of The State of the Nation Press Conference addressed by the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL)

on Wednesday, 7^th of March, 2012, at The Humanity Centre, Lagos

Gentlemen of the Press,

This conference is called to celebrate the triumph of our struggles against powerful elements and influential criminals; share experiences on some hazards we escaped, complain about those who make anti-corruption struggle difficult, including the seemingly timid and lethargic federal government, and of course, alert on some free-ranging Iboris in our society that need be caged. We also look at President Jonathan’s seeming timidity or lethargy in bringing his corrupt ‘bosses’, colleagues, subordinates and acquaintances to book.

Michael Aondoakaa: The worst AGF Nigeria ever had

When Mr Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, the disgraced former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation was first demoted from the only constitutionally-recognised Ministry of Justice to an obscure Ministry of Special Duties we refused to celebrate but wrote President Goodluck Jonathan to beware of keeping a dangerous serpent on his roof while he went to sleep. Specifically, we asked Mr President to sack the rouge lawyer as he was noted to be an unrepentant agent of corrupt leaders especially a notorious serial corruption criminal Thief (or is it Chief?) James Onanefe Ibori. Read the rest of this entry »