The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called for urgent legislative amendments to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), proposing the abolition of plea bargaining and the denial of bail for economic crimes exceeding N50 million.
In a statement issued on Friday, the group’s National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, attributed the pervasive corruption plaguing the nation to weak legal frameworks that embolden public officials to plunder treasury funds with impunity.
The MMWG’s intervention follows recent high-profile corruption cases, including the prosecution of former Minister of Power, Engineer Sale Mamman, and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami, SAN, whose assets worth billions of naira were forfeited to the Federal Government.
“Custodial detention remains the greatest deterrent to corrupt officials, yet economic offenders currently enjoy bail provisions that render prosecution toothless. The availability of plea bargaining further compounds this problem by allowing culprits to negotiate their way out of full accountability,” Abdullahi stated.
The group urged both the National Assembly and the Executive to enact stringent legislation that would eliminate plea bargaining and impose mandatory denial of bail for corruption cases exceeding N50 million.
“Such measures represent the only viable path to curbing treasury looting and restoring public trust in governance,” Abdullahi added.
Commending the Judiciary and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for their diligent prosecution of corruption and security cases, the MMWG expressed optimism that sustained efforts would help Nigeria reclaim its stature in the fight against corruption and terrorism.
Security and Governance
On security matters, the group praised President Bola Tinubu and security agencies for recent successes in rescuing kidnap victims, while calling for more proactive measures to prevent crimes rather than merely responding to incidents.
The MMWG also appealed to the President to compel all 36 state governors to clear outstanding pension arrears and gratuities owed to retired state and local government workers.
The group expressed concern that some retirees who left service 15 years ago remain unpaid, noting that increased FAAC allocations over the past three years render such delays inexcusable.
“Governors must fear God and emulate President Tinubu, who has demonstrated exemplary leadership by clearing all outstanding gratuities for federal workers,” the group said.
With strengthened legislation and enhanced accountability, the MMWG believes Nigeria can restore public confidence and reclaim its anti-corruption credentials on the global stage.
