INDEPENDENCE OF ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES: A DESIDERATUM FOR WINNING THE WAR ON CORRUPTION AND FINANCIAL CRIMES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

In Nigeria, corruption is not part of government; it is the very essence of participation in government. The needto combat and contain corruption has long been identified by successive governments as a panacea to Nigeria’sdevelopmental challenges. Previous administrations have used three main strategies to combat the evilphenomenon called corruption and financial crimes, namely; moral sensitization, legal instruments andestablishment of anti-corruption bodies or strengthening of existing law enforcement agencies. This paper arguesthat corruption thrives in Nigeria not for want of any of these three mechanisms and that the main driver ofcorruption in Nigeria is the improbability of detection and the uncertainty of punishment. This clearly puts theblame for corruption on the doorstep of anti-corruption bodies or law enforcement institutions generally. In thelight of the above, this paper examines among other things the independence of anti-corruption bodies in Nigeriaand how their lack of independence impedes detection and prosecution of corruption and financial crimes. Thepaper concludes by recommending that since corruption is a systemic problem, institutions saddled with theonerous task of fighting corruption should be well equipped, adequately financed and given freedom to operatewithout interference from government officials and politicians.