African countries must take measures to recover stolen loot - Ribadu
to take measures to recover stolen loot stashed abroad by corrupt
leaders.
Ribadu made the call at a plenary session of the ongoing 2nd Annual
High Level Dialogue on Governance and Democracy in Africa holding in
Dakar.
Speaking on the topic: "The Imperatives of Rule of Law for Improved
Public Service Delivery in Africa", the former EFCC boss said this was
necessary to serve as deterrent to the leaders and those countries who
accepted stolen wealth.
He said that African countries should learn from Nigeria, which had
been the only country that had succeeded in recovering stolen wealth
of past leaders.
He said that under his tenure, Nigeria succeeded in recovering two
billion dollars stashed in various countries by past corrupt leaders.
Ribadu said Nigeria was also able to build a global alliance to stop
countries from accepting questionable deposits.
He said that the EFCC, under his tenure, was able to secure 300
convictions as well as recover five billion dollars from corrupt
officials.
Ribadu said that there were enough laws to deter and punish corrupt
leaders in many African countries, but the major problem was the
non-implementation of such laws.
He urged the AU to assist member states to build up their capacities
to use the laid-down laws and regulations to tackle corruption.
Also contributing, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, the Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, called for comprehensive
reforms of laws to strengthen the rule of law in Africa.
He said the major problem facing leadership in Africa was the
perception that "nothing good comes out of the government."
He said this had often led to a situation whereby the good and upright
people often shunned leadership positions.
Fapohunda, therefore, called on civil society organisations to show
more interest in governance and ensure that people were enlightened to
participate in governance.
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