News
If We Fail To Fight Corruption, Corruption Will Destroy Our Society – Minister Of Justice
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
Corruption has long been a menace in Nigeria, threatening the nation’s progress and stability. In a bid to address this persistent issue, the Centre for Media, Policy, and Accountability (CMPA) organised a one-day national policy dialogue titled “Anti-Corruption Performance in Nigeria: 1999-2024 – Successes and Challenges”. Hosted at the ICPC office in Abuja, the event brought together key players in governance, civil society, and anti-corruption agencies to chart a course for a corruption-free Nigeria.
Speaking at the Event the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. He extended heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to address the occasion, recognising it as a platform to unite forces in the fight against corruption.
He further underscored the grave threat corruption poses to society, declaring, “If we fail to fight corruption, it will destroy our society.” In his speech represented by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (San), He stressed the need for a paradigm shift in tackling corruption, advocating for a digital approach over traditional methods to outsmart modern corrupt practices.
The Antorney general of the federaltion, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), lauded Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies for their dedication and expressed gratitude for being part of such a transformative event. He further emphasised the importance of recognising and rewarding good behaviour as a strategy to foster accountability and integrity in the country.
Reflecting On the corruption issues in the country Dr Kole Shettima, Director of the MacArthur Foundation’s West Africa programme and Co-Director of the On Nigeria initiative, called on civil society to strengthen their role in the fight against corruption. Dr Shettima highlighted the importance of creating greater public awareness to sustain momentum in the anti-corruption campaign.
“Youth empowerment has been a major concern for our organisation,” he remarked, noting the significant progress made. As an example, he cited the investigation of over 700 housing units in the previous week as a testament to the impact of anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
The event featured several notable personalities, including Barrister Magaji Muhuyi, Executive Chairman of the PCACC in Kano State, and Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement, Dr Abdulahi Usman Bello Chairman Code of conduct Bureau and many others
The Executive Director of CMPA, Dr Suleiman A. Suleiman, expressed optimism about the dialogue’s impact, recognising it as a platform to exchange ideas and strategies for strengthening accountability in governance.
During the section, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), underscored the necessity of collaboration in the fight against corruption. “No single agency can combat corruption alone,” he stated, urging both citizens and civil society to actively engage in this battle.
Dr Aliyu also emphasised the importance of data-driven strategies, calling for greater investment in technology, including artificial intelligence, to enhance the efficiency and transparency of anti-corruption efforts. He argued that leveraging technology is crucial in closing gaps exploited by corrupt individuals and organisations.
Nollywood star Annie Idibia opens up about life after her separation from music legend 2Baba. The actress reveals her daughters, Isabella and Olivia, are her strongest source of strength and emotional support.
She expressed her feelings during a red carpet interview at the Headies Awards, the actress spoke openly about how her daughters, Isabella and Olivia, have become her greatest pillar of strength during this emotional transition.
Her candid conversation sparked widespread admiration from fans, especially for the way she continues to prioritise her family and remain grounded amid personal turmoil.
During the emotional exchange at the prestigious awards show, Annie made it clear that her daughters are not just her children but the centre of her universe. She described Isabella and Olivia as her “only family” and her “backbone”, highlighting the deep bond she shares with them.
Annie shared her message in Pidgin English: “My children dey Kampe. The first one dey Yankee, she dey go school. No play with that girl o. I don’t play with my kids. Na them be my backbone.”
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced plans to establish a centralised system for the authentication and verification of all travel documents in Nigeria.
He made this known during a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday with the United Kingdom’s Minister of State, David Hanson.
In the company of Hanson were delegates from the UK Home Office, National Crime Agency, and the British High Commission.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the initiative aims to tackle immigration and document fraud, particularly those associated with border control.
“We discovered that one of the key drivers of rising document fraud is the absence of a centralised, real-time verification system,” he said.
“Currently, if someone submits 20 documents, you may need to contact 20 different issuing agencies to verify them. That breeds inefficiency.”
He explained that the proposed system would allow real-time verification of all documents—such as bank statements, passports, and certificates—at a single centre.
The minister also said Nigeria was ready to take the lead in formulating a regional strategy for border control, noting that regional differences required customised approaches.
“To tackle a heterogeneous problem with a homogeneous approach will not work,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
“That’s why we’re planning a regional border conference to allow for the development of unified yet adaptable strategies to combat migration and border-related challenges.”
He further disclosed that Nigeria’s EU visa solution platform would go live on May 1.
According to him, this will allow for more efficient processing and international cooperation while safeguarding national security and promoting investment.
“We now have a policy that ensures a response—approval or rejection—within 24 to 48 hours of applying for an EU visa,” he said.
Speaking on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Tunji-Ojo emphasised the administration’s commitment to preventing corruption rather than merely reacting to it.
“Our performance will be judged not by the number of convictions or recoveries but by how many crimes or frauds we prevent,” he said.
In his remarks, Hanson expressed the UK’s readiness to continue collaborating with Nigeria to improve criminal justice outcomes.
Hanson noted that the UK was reviewing its e-visa system and migration policies while exploring ways to expand trade, business, and skills development opportunities with Nigeria.
“My colleagues at the High Commission are eager to maintain strong engagement with the Nigerian government,” he said
According to him, the UK looks forward to enhancing cooperation in tackling crime and fraud.
“You can rest assured that the National Crime Agency, the High Commission, and the Home Office are ready to extend a hand of partnership,” he said.
….Says Atiku on his way out of PDP
…It was against my people’s will
Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has revealed that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Recall that, Atiku was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, with Okowa as his running mate.
On March 20, 2023, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and others jointly announced the creation of a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The move has sparked ongoing discussions about the potential for a united opposition, with political leaders expressing varied opinions.
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Okowa—who officially joined the All Progressives Congress on Monday—expressed regret for not aligning with his people in supporting a southern candidate in 2023 instead of accepting the role as Atiku’s running mate. He said, “Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power.
“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party, and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”
He added that the election of the current Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, proves that the people still have confidence in their leadership.
Okowa added, “That showed the people still believed in us, believed in me. They said you’ve done well, and we will support the governor you have chosen. And they did.”
When asked about his communication with Atiku before leaving the PDP, Okowa responded, “I actually did communicate with him that we were going to have stakeholders meetings this week (in the last week) and that it was going to be a leadership meeting and the outcome of that meeting was going to determine our next path because we were no longer comfortable with the PDP.
“And I also know that he is already heading out of the PDP from the communications he has passed on to me, and that Nigerians know already.”