HEDA Drums Support For Establishment Of Global Anti-Corruption Court
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has stressed the importance of establishing an International Anti-Corruption Court to serve as a viable means of reducing corruption in Nigeria’s public sector as well as combating illicit financial flow globally.
HEDA which stated its position during an anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in Abuja, noted that that having an international court to try graft will deter public officers from engaging in corrupt acts to help local law enforcement agencies and the administration of justice in the country.
These positions were espoused by David Ogungbesan, HEDA’s Legal Officer, who also noted that the establishment of the Court was necessary given the rising need to strengthen the prosecution of corrupt individuals thus, urged Nigerians to support the advocacy.
Ogungbesan said the development will provide Nigeria and other countries the opportunity to explore international means towards mitigating corruption.
He also said; “The impact of corruption on Nigerian society is there for everyone to see. We believe that besides preventing corruption, a way to go about it is by prosecution, which is a good measure to deter public officers from engaging in corrupt practices.
“The international anti-corruption court will also aid the local law enforcement agencies and the situation of injustice in the system. It’s an opportunity for Nigeria, and of course, other countries to explore international means towards reducing corruption in our society. It will not be conflicting with the court of the land but will be important in combating illicit financial flow,” he enthused.
Ogungbesan noted that the former President Muhammadu Buhari and over 100 other world leaders had expressed support for the establishment of an international court to prosecute corruption.
He however acknowledged that there would be challenges against establishing an international court to prosecute corruption thus, urged citizens to hold leaders to account and support the initiative given the positives it brings.
“The people need to take this advocacy seriously. They should talk about it, engage their representatives, and buy into this idea,” Ogungbesan stressed.
On her part, the Programme Officer at West African Bar Association, Dabotonye Dappa, urged Nigerians to support the initiative of a special court to prosecute corruption while citing judiciary independence and lack of political will by leaders to fight crime as a major problem.
She further said; “In trying to tackle lack of political will, the judiciary has a huge role to play, and that is why we call for the independence of the judiciary, not a judiciary that is influenced by the Executive.
“Because at the end of the day, in fighting corruption, we end up in the courts, and when we have judges that are being influenced by the same corrupt people we are fighting, we are back to square one,” Dappa stated.
