Corruption and Capital Punishment in Nigeria

Premier northern organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) recently proposed death penalty for corrupt individuals in Nigeria.  ACF recommends that corruption be recognized as a capital offence and made to carry capital punishment.  As expected in a diverse country like Nigeria, their suggestion has generated heated public debate for and against the proposal.  As most Nigerians know, corruption in Nigeria is entrenched, endemic and rampant across the land.  Corruption has stunted growth and made public and private transactions in Nigeria a nightmare.  One only need to walk into any government office to see how corruption has thorn apart the moral fabric of the nation.  In some cases, one has to bribe receptionist and her superiors before they can do the job they are paid to do.  Failure to pay bribe means that your concern will not be attended to.  It is not unusual to see Nigeria police who are suppose to keep law and order collecting bribes from motorists on highways.  Contracts awarded by public officials are often inflated so they will get their own cut (kick-back).  Some government officials engage in outright embezzlement of public fund.

Only few notable Nigerians have been tried and sentenced for corruption since Nigeria became a republic.  Former Governor of Bayelsa state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was convicted of corruption, served six months in jail and seizure of his ill-gotten properties after plea-bargain with EFCC.  Former ex-governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbnedion, was tried, convicted and fined 3.5 million naira by an Enugu High court in December 2008.  As expected, the fine was lambasted by Nigerians as a slap-on-the wrist considering the billions of Naira he was accused of stealing.  Chief Bode George, former chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest region completed a jail term for corruption last year for embezzlement while serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority.   On the hand, former governor of Plateau state, Joshua Dariye, former governor of Ekiti, Fayose, former governor of Kogi, Adamu, former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, former governor of Delta State, James Ibori who is serving jail term in England for corruption, former governor of Jigawa state, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki and other other former governors have all been charged by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for corruption but their cases are still pending in various courts across the country.  No reason has been given as to why their cases remain unresolved.

In view of the catastrophic impact of corruption in Nigeria, should Arewa Consultative Forum proposal be adopted? It is a complicated issue that deserves a little bit of analysis.  What are the pros and cons of using capital punishment to fight corruption.

Pros:

1. Recognizing corruption as capital offense and using death penalty as a hammer to stamp it out will definitely curtail corruption.  It will certainly make everybody think twice before engaging in corruption.  China introduced capital punishment to help checkmate corruption and their effort has  recorded significant success by streamlining and cleansing their society.  On the other hand, China is a not a democracy but Nigeria is, thus will find it harder to impose death penalty for corrupt offenses.
2. Reduction of corruption with imposition of death penalty if successfully implemented will certainly enhance development throughout Nigeria.  Billions of government naira stolen and in some cases laundered out of the country will be invested in education and used in rebuilding infrastructures that has been neglected for decades.  Governance will significantly improve in private and public sector as a result.  Creation of conducive business environment with less corruption will attract additional foreign investments.

3. Fairness: How can one justify death penalty for armed robbers who sometimes steals far less compared to some blue collar workers.  It is true that blue collar employees do not use gun and terror when stealing, but the overall effect of pauperizing the population is the same.

4. Importation of fake drug is a serious problem in Nigeria.  Importers of fake drugs in some cases pay bribes to law enforcement officials who should know better.  The fake drugs often results in unnecessary death.

5. Reduction of corruption which adoption of death penalty will accomplish will increase confidence of Nigerians in their government which will lead to preservation of democracy in the long term.  Successive military coupist often justify their nefarious adventures by accusing preceding civilian governments of wholesale corruption.

Cons:

1. Death penalty is draconian, inhumane and extreme.  It will be difficult for any democratic country to justify such a practice.  Any goodwill Nigeria government enjoys among committee of democratic nations will evaporate.  Nigeria could easily become a pariah.

2. Death penalty is not always a panacea for corruption.  In china where death penalty for corruption is widely practiced, corruption is still high.       Some people will still take that risk if they think they can get away with it.

3. Nigeria justice system is good but does have its share of problems.  The judiciary branch is not free from corruption.  There is a chance that an innocent person can be mistakenly convicted especially if he or she does not have enough resources to defend him or herself.  A situation may arise where the poor who steals few naira  end up in death row while large scale corruption which is common among men of power with political influence will escapes similar fate.

I do not believe that imposition of death penalty for corruption is the best way to tackle this monster that have ruined Nigeria for so long and made life miserable for ordinary citizen.  Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) have a point that should not be dismissed out-of-hand or imply that there are ulterior motives behind their proposal.  Their proposal is more a cry for help for a desperate situation that have pauperized Nigerians from all parts of the country.  It is unfortunate that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) established with great fanfare and hope have not lived up-to expectation since the departure of the first chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.  Nigeria has enough laws in the book to adequately address corruption.  What is lacking is the will.  What Nigerian government at all level has to do is serious enforcement of the current laws.  EFCC needs to have presence in all the local government areas and no nonsense chairman like Nuhu Ribadu should be appointed to head the agency.  Nigerian police Force should be reorganized and trained on how to spot, investigate and prosecute corrupt individuals.  All bad apples in all sectors of law enforcement should be relieved of their positions.