‘Lawmakers are enemies of anti-corruption fight,’ Sagay says

Professor Itse Sagay has accused Nigeria’s lawmakers of being against the government’s anti-corruption war.

Sagay, who chairs the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), made the comment after Senate President, Bukola Saraki accused the government of sensationalism in its fight against corruption.

Saraki spoke on Monday, May 15, during the launch of Senator Dino Melaye’s book, “Antidotes for Corruption: The Nigerian Story,” in Abuja.

“In fact, the National Assembly has constituted itself into an opposition to the anti-corruption struggle. It has mounted a war against the anti-corruption struggle. It has decided to obstruct it at every stage,” Sagay said according to The Cable.

“For example, the bill for a special criminal court is not moving. And we saw the way they tried to stop Magu from being chairman of EFCC just because they found out he was effective, determined and incorruptible.

“So they really want to weaken it, destroy it and bring it to the level it was when Jonathan was in power. So, they’re enemies of the anti-corruption struggle, there’s no question about that.

“What we are determined to do at any cost is to recover every stolen kobo, all the loot taken from Nigeria, 100 per cent,” he added.

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Saraki had also urged the government to fight the war with sincerity and focus on deterrence rather than punishment.