The Chairman, NBA National Anti-Corruption Committee, Prof. Babafemi Badejo, said this in a statement made available to newsmen.
He said that without concrete incremental efforts toward addressing corruption, meaningful human development and utmost freedom would remain elusive.
“Not many countries explicitly have anti-corruption written into their respective constitutions.
“Our laws and constitution are not oblivious to the devastating effects of corruption, hence the intentions to address issues of corruption.
“Section 98(I) of the Criminal Code provides that any public officer who is found guilty of corruption is guilty of a felony and is liable to seven years’ imprisonment.
“Section 15 (5) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, stated that, “The state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
“Section 23 of the constitution provided for a national ethics which shall be discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance, and patriotism.”
He said the NBA, leading by example, could provide some inspiration for the judiciary, legislature, and executives on the need for real commitments and will in the fight against corruption.
“NBA, under the current leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has commenced showing interest in contributing to anti-corruption in Nigeria.
“Tackling corruption successfully is to enhance the rule of law, the NBA’s guiding motto. A failure in mitigating and addressing the scourge of corruption is to create a situation of disregard for the rule of law,” he said.
Badejo said that the NBA, under Osigwe, should be supported in its efforts against corruption.
“At its recent NEC meeting, the NBA, following the recommendation of its National Anti-Corruption Committee, unanimously resolved to establish Branch-Level Anti-Corruption Committees across all 130 branches.”
Badejo said that the committee would work in synergy with the national committee. (NAN)
