Navigating the Cacophony of Human Rights Claims and Chain of Fraud in Nigeria: The Anti-Corruption Perspective
- May 5, 2018
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Political Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume II, Issue IV, April 2018 | ISSN 2454-6186
Mike Opeyemi OMILUSI
Ph.D, Department of Political Science, Ekiti State University, Nigeria
Abstract: – Since the Buhari administration assumed power, it has earned the people’s confidence with its anti-corruption efforts. Making culprits to account for their past unlawful deeds, in a very aggressive manner ever witnessed in the nation’s political history, generates different reactions among Nigerians. However, some questions remain pertinent to this study: Are Nigerians really advocating persecution or prosecution in respect of the graft suspects? Do they want conviction without being convinced? Is their outburst propelled by emotions and revengeful anticipation of having suspected looters of the nation’s commonwealth behind bars? Can the war be successfully fought without resorting to impunity? After setting the context for this study concerning the trends in the uncovered chain of fraud, the interconnectedness between the anti-corruption war and the rule of law, this study draws from an on-going prosecution of corruption suspects, particularly those who served in the last administration, and their frequent complaints of violation of fundamental human rights viz-a-viz the activities of the anti-graft agencies. The cardinal objective of this study, therefore, is to interrogate the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war within the context of the rule of law particularly, in relation to those standing trial on the one hand and anxiety for justice by Nigerians on the other hand.
Key Words: Corruption, Rule of Law, Human Rights, Prosecution, Fraud
I. INTRODUCTION
As a complex phenomenon, corruption has been identified as a hydra-headed monster with grievous effects on development, thereby making it a human rights issue both in Nigeria and the African continent. This assertion found merit in the various campaigns being mounted by human right lawyers, activists and scholars in the continent because of the intrinsic effect of corruption on the rights of their people (Nwannekanma, 2014).
