Corruption is High Treason, Says Akanbi
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi, yesterday said that the status setting up his commission regards and treats corruption as 'high treason'.
Addressing council chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a three-day seminar in Abuja, Akanbi said that ICPC would not exculpate any of them indicted over corruption on the grounds of ignorance of the law.
In a paper entitled, "Accountability, Transparency and Due Process in Local Government Administration: Towards an Enforceable Code of Conduct for Local Government Administrators," Akanbi said, "Some experts say corruption is high treason. I am inclined to agree. The sufferings of millions, resulting from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, hopelessness, and death brought on them by a few unscrupulous criminal elements in public offices are simply incomprehensible and unforgivable. The breach of public trust to me is the heinous of offences."
Akanbi told the council chairmen that, "you cannot feign the fact that corruption, more than any epidemic, has unleashed terrible devastation on our nation, almost bringing it virtually to its knees. So be warned."
He said, "The public office is a reflection and symbol of any civil society. It reflects the probity, order, justice, sustenance, protection, and hope for the community. Public office compliments transparency and not translucence, it compliments integrity not indiscretion, incorruptibility not corruption, morality not immorality. These values can only be relinquished if public office fails."
He said the only way to ensure development at all levels was to tackle corruption decisively.
Reading out portions of the ICPC Act, Akanbi said, "I therefore must advise you to get acquainted with the provisions of the law and keep to the law to avoid any embarrassment."
Specifically, he said, " I invite you to pay attention to these provisions of the Act meant to ensure due process and accountability in the conduct of government business. The penalties for infringing on these provisions are quite severe."
He reminded council chairmen that it was an offence to defraud, conceal a crime or even frustrate investigation by the commission and mutilate or falsify any book, document, valuable security, or any other information by virtue of their position.
The ICPC chairman also used the opportunity to call on various professional bodies in the country to sanction their members that engage in corrupt practices.
"It is also necessary that professional bodies should not shirk in the responsibility of imposing appropriate sanctions and discipline on its erring members," Akanbi said.
According to him, "It is saddening that a frightening proportion of the petitions we are receiving are against public officers that are members of reputable professional bodies in the country."
In his address, National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh has warned chairmen of local government councils elected on the platform of the party not to make any commitments to politicians on 2007 elections.
Ogbeh said, " As we approach 2007, do not commit yourself to any politician, it is too early in the day to do so. If you commit yourself now, it would be difficult to withdraw, then you are no longer a man of your words."
Ogbeh counseled the council chairmen to concentrate on how to offer qualitative leadership to the people in the rural areas. "Let us govern between now and the time, so that we are not seen as people who are jumping from one campaign to another. For the next two years, let us concentrate and give governance to our people."
According to Ogbeh, "when the time is here and you decide that this is where I am going, please go, do not be in a hurry. So your answer to anyone coming around saying, I am the candidate would be, this is not yet time."
He also cautioned the council chairmen to beware of aspirants seeking their support as "there will be many hunters and poachers invading this fertile field called PDP."
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