Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, has noted that government funds that are not used for the benefit of Nigerians can create opportunities for public money to be stolen.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Olumide-Fusika said the problem goes beyond repeated promises to fight corruption, arguing that government must direct available funds towards services and programmes that benefit the people.
“If you have money belonging to Nigeria and you’re not spending it, you say, oh, it’s not meant for education, it’s not meant for health, it’s not meant for this, it’s not meant for that. So, what is the money meant for? It’s meant to be stolen. And that’s what they are doing.”
He said Nigeria’s efforts to fight corruption have not produced enough visible improvement despite the establishment of institutions such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. “We can’t see the improvements. So, other than preaching to ourselves, there’s nothing to write home about, about fighting corruption.”
Olumide-Fusika linked the problem to how government resources are prioritised, saying public money should be used for education.
“And I’ve come to the conclusion that if you have money lying fallow somewhere, you’re not using it for social programme, you’re not using it to benefit the people. Of course, it won’t be there for nothing. People will go there and take their share.”
He said government should take responsibility for providing essential services instead of shifting the burden to citizens. “Government money should be used for the people.”
Olumide-Fusika also criticised spending that he believes does not provide enough value to Nigerians. “And you see the elaborate ceremony that was put up. It seems nothing to most people, but those who know will tell you that if you go and check how much was spent on that programme, it’s probably enough to restore one of the primary schools to a good position.”
He said the value of public funds depends on how they are used. “So, if you use your own 100 Naira to gamble, to hire choruses, to go to the airport, to welcome the president, you know, those kind of things. And I use my own to educate the people to invest and to do things. You’ll see that my 10 Naira will bring more value than your own 100 Naira.”
On the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, Olumide-Fusika questioned whether increased government revenues had translated into better public services. “We e have now removed the subsidy. What has happened? You have a company and they brag about it. We have more money going to the States. We have more money to share, so to say. What has been the effect on the people? Have you seen improvement on education? Have you seen.”
He argued that the availability of money does not automatically benefit citizens if governments do not budget adequately for public needs.
“So, the point I was making earlier is if you have money and you are not budgeting for the people, you are budgeting for yourself.”
Olumide-Fusika also rejected the argument that harsher penalties, including the death penalty, are the main solution to corruption.
“I don’t recommend the death penalty.”
He said the more important issue is enforcement, pointing to Nigeria’s experience with the use of the death penalty to tackle armed robbery. “It’s not the, I don’t think it’s about the penalty or the stiffness of it. It’s about enforcement, ensuring that, you know.”
On the role of lawyers in corruption cases, Olumide-Fusika said the legal system allows accused persons to defend themselves in court and that lawyers have a duty to challenge the prosecution’s evidence. “The role of the defence lawyer is to puncture holes in what you have presented.”
He said corruption can also resist efforts to tackle it through legal challenges.
“Corruption fights back. They fight with the court and they use lawyers. Fight back.”
Olumide-Fusika said lawyers should not be blamed as the central reason Nigeria has struggled to fight corruption. “As far as I’m concerned, lawyers are not your problem.”
He said Nigeria should also consider reforms around the declaration of assets by political candidates and public officials. “Code of conduct. Declaration of assets. I would like to see a situation where anybody wants to say that I’m interested in contesting an election. Part of what is to submit to INEC is a declaration of his assets.”
Olumide-Fusika proposed that candidates asset declarations should be made public in their constituencies, with further declarations made after election and at the end of their time in office. “Not only that he must submit it. Part of the things that must be publicised within the person’s constituency. This is the asset that this man says he has. If he’s elected, when he’s elected, he should do another declaration, publicise it. When he’s leaving office, he should do another one, publicise it.”
He said public access to such information could make it easier to question unexplained wealth among public officials. “So when the man begins to live above his means, unexplained words, there will be concrete reasons to say this was what you declared. Where did you get this or that one and so on and so forth?”
Olumide-Fusika said Nigeria’s corruption problem requires more than public statements and repeated commitments. “It’s not about preachment and all that.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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