Prominent lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has expressed sharp criticism of Nigeria’s approach to fighting corruption, accusing the country of celebrating impunity rather than eradicating graft.
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In a series of posts shared on X (formerly Twitter) late on December 2, 2024, Okutepa questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security and anti-graft agencies in combating corruption.
Okutepa highlighted that properties allegedly forfeited to the Federal Government were built on land granted to the accused individuals during their time in power, raising concerns about how such large-scale crimes escaped detection. He noted:
“The property allegedly forfeited to the FGN did not belong to a person with impunity while holding political power. Why did our security agencies fail to detect the crimes while the alleged perpetrator was perpetuating it?”
He further criticized the reactive nature of Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight, stating that security agencies often act only after individuals lose political influence, rather than proactively addressing corruption during their tenure.
“For Nigeria to be seen to fight corruption, those in power must be investigated and prosecuted. We must avoid the fight of corruption that gives the appearance of political revenge. Why is it that our security agencies become effective only against those not in power?”
Calling for greater transparency, Okutepa demanded that forfeited properties be accounted for and made public, ensuring Nigerians are informed about their management. He emphasized that anti-corruption agencies should pursue cases against individuals within and around the corridors of power to maintain public trust.
“Fighting corruption by advertorial is not good enough. There are many persons in and around the corridors of power to be investigated and prosecuted by the anti-graft agencies. That is the essence of Section 7 of the EFCC Act, for instance. EFCC should go after them.”
He concluded by urging the government to grant full independence to anti-graft agencies, ensuring their integrity and effectiveness. Okutepa argued that a truly independent and transparent anti-corruption system is essential to restoring public confidence and eradicating corruption in Nigeria.
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