Corruption in Nigeria: Enough-is-Enough petitions US, UK, SA, Canada with 50,000 signatories

Nigeria-based civil society coalition known as Enough-is-Enough has petitioned all the embassies in the country, especially, that of the United States, Britain, South Africa, and Canada to deny corrupt leaders and families entry visas into their countries.

The civil group in a petition made available to DigitalSENSE Business News, stated that they are seeking for 50,000 signatories to back-up their petition to these embassies and as at the press time, over 600 signatories have been gathered for this petition at the change.org; to wholesomely deny convicted corrupt leaders visas.

They noted that Nigeria’s fight against corruption has attracted financial, technical and moral support from various governments and donor agencies, particularly from the aforementioned embassies.

According to them, there must be a strong response to these pardons that show commitment to the fight against corruption and support for the Nigerian people who are opposed to the pardons.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan proclaimed pardon for eight Nigerians, three of which have continued to generate controversy in the media.

The Enough-is-Enough group pointed out that of the eight pardons granted, the most talked about is that of ex-Governor D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa state, who jumped bail in the UK in 2005 on money laundering charges, but was later tried and convicted in Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and insisted that Mr. Alamieyeseigha is still wanted abroad.

Also, the group said the second most talked about pardon, has been that of Major Bello Magaji, who was convicted in 1996 of sodomizing little children.

 
While the third controversial pardon was that given to Mustapha Bulama, the former Managing Director of the Bank of the North, who converted customers’ deposits into personal funds, crashing what was once Nigeria's biggest bank.
 
The group argued that for looting state funds and customer deposits as well as abusing children, “these three men have been granted state pardons, effectively sending a strong message of state-sanctioned abuse of power.”
 

Alams on the run ...

Worthy of note was that soon after the so-called pardon was announced, the US Embassy in Nigeria tweeted twice on Thursday condemning the pardons. In their words:
 
“#USG is deeply disappointed over the recent pardons of corrupt officials by the GON #Nigeria. We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption #Nigeria.”
 
They, therefore, called on US, British, Canadian, German, South African and Emirati governments who in different capacities support Nigeria’s fight against corruption and are popular destinations for Nigerians, to desist from granting visas to any persons, and members of their families, convicted of stealing public funds or acts that violate fundamental human rights.
 
“Nigeria’s fight against corruption has attracted financial, technical and moral support from various governments and donor agencies. Any sanctions against current government officials to send a strong message of disproval of state-sanctioned looting of funds will also be welcome,” the group submitted. 

Remmy Nweke/DSBNews
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