President declares war against corruption, Sagay heads 7-man Advisory Committee

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a 7-man Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by Prof. Itse Sagay, professor of law and civil rights activist.

This information is contained in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Monday, August 10.

The statement explained that the committee is to advise the administration on the prosecution of the War against Corruption (WAC) and the implementation of required Reforms in Nigeria's Criminal Justice System.

Members of the committee are Prof. Femi Odekunle, Professor of Criminology, Ahmadu Bello University and Dr Benedicta Daudu, Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos.

Others are Prof. E. Alemika, Professor of Sociology, University of Jos; Prof. Sadiq Radda, Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano, and Hadiza Bala Usman, civil society activist.

Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies would serve as member and Executive Secretary of the committee.

The statement said five million dollars Reform Fund has been established by Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation in support of federal government’s anti-corruption and criminal justice reforms.

It said the fund would assist in the implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.

"The fund would be managed by Trust Africa, an international development civil society organisation with programme presence in more than 25 African countries.