During the ongoing 10th National Assembly Induction Programme, held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, Imo North Senator-elect, Patrick Ndubueze, called for the adoption of China’s anti-corruption law in Nigeria.
China’s law stipulates that anyone found guilty of embezzling or taking bribes exceeding 3 million yuan, which is equivalent to $443,000, is to be executed. Ndubueze believes Nigeria should emulate this approach if it wants to become corruption-free.
Ndubueze challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by asking why they couldn’t bring a bill that would sentence anyone who embezzles N1bn or more to the death penalty. He added that, once the anti-corruption bill is passed, it should be sent to all Nigerian embassies worldwide, so people coming into the country could be educated.
Furthermore, Ndubueze advocated for the constitution of a permanent tribunal to expedite corruption trials and bring an end to prolonging trials.
In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a spike in the fight against corruption through the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. However, progress has been unimpressive due to a prolonged trial process, technicalities, and corruption allegations against prosecutors and judges.
Although Ndubueze’s proposal seemed drastic, he believes that if Nigeria doesn’t emulate China’s method and take a severe approach to anti-corruption, there might be no hope for the country to experience development or attract foreign investment.
