In this Interview with JOHN CHIKEZIE, the chairman of
the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor
Itse Sagays, SAN gives an insight into why the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) loses more than winning
corruption cases in court
What is your committee doing to revive the
anti-corruption war especially as the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC loses more cases in court?
For now, appeals, arguments and points are being x-rayed and
prepared. This is simply because there is a difference between
justice and law. We don’t want a situation where one would apply
law and achieve injustice. So, we are working hard to ensure that
law and justice are both harmonized and also working hard on the
appeals.
Two government officials and some businessmen were
alleged to have stolen the sum of N52 trillion in the past seven
years. What is the government doing to recover the
fund?
They are all virtually being prosecuted right now. They are people
you know very well but I won’t mention their names. Although, they
include bankers and all the big bankers you know that were under
trial; some have being tried with plea bargain and they spent about
six months before they were eventually released. Hence, some have
been concluded while others are still going on. There is one of
them, for example, who has gone back as a governor and when he
finishes, he is going to be taken back for the trial.
Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo said it is costly to
recover some of these stolen funds. What has the government done so
far in this regards?
Well, the ones that are costly are those that are locked up abroad-
outside the shores of the country. Most especially, those ones that
at the face of it, appear to be willing to release the money but in
reality, they are not.
At times, there are huge deductions made and costs at the other
end. In several occasions, you find people who refer to themselves
as consultants, who are helping to trace these funds and
thereafter, present huge bills. So, these are some of the issues
experienced during the process.
The procedures can be complicated, especially when you have to go
through a court. So, those are the things causing or creating the
high cost or expenses.
What is the sum total of these stolen funds trapped in
some western countries?
It’s really impossible for me to quote the exact figures because
there are people who have a deeper knowledge of that than me. The
one I know that is outstanding is about $450 million in
Switzerland; there could be more which I don’t know but this is the
one I know of.
What are the difficulties or frustrations experienced in
the process of retrieving the looted money?
There are several ones like I said earlier. In some cases, they
would insist that you go to court to establish a case so that the
court can deliver a judgment in your favour. Like the ones in
Switzerland, although they are not insisting on that process and
are ready to return the money, but they are given conditions where
they want the United Nations to be the ones to actually detect how
the money should be spent, after we have received it. Therefore,
those are the things causing the problems.
Former vice president, Mohammed Namadi Sambo is raising
the alarm that security agents are desperate to nail him, any
faintest idea of this frequent raids on Sambo’s residence by
security operatives?
I have not the faintest idea as to what their agenda might be. I
only know a little as written and published in the papers. But one
thing I would say is that these agencies don’t act frivolously
because there must be something they must be looking for. And, it
may be unfair on the former VP, I would agree, especially because
of the repeated nature, but obviously, there is something important
they are unto. But I don’t know what it is since nobody has
consulted me or given me any information in that regard.
How would you rate Buhari, Osinbajo administration in
the war against corruption?
Since the passage of our first leaders, like Awolowo, Azikiwe and
Ahmadu Bello, we have not been lucky enough to have highly
principled, consistent, committed men of great integrity and honour
like President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo. Perhaps the only
other previous administration close to the present one, is the
Murtala Mohammed/Obasanjo Administration.
Having been victimized, brutalized, looted, marginalized and
contemptuously treated by past administrations, particularly the 12
year torture and brigandry of the PDP, Nigerians are extremely
lucky that Buhari and Osinbajo have come on a rescue mission to
bring us back from the brink of destruction.
We now have leaders who are in office to serve Nigeria and who
stand on integrity and high principles.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that no going
back on Ibrahim Magu despite Senate’s brouhaha. What is your
view?
By the statement released by the Acting President to-night, vowing
that he and the President will stand by Ibrahim Magu to the end, we
are re-assured that if you are committed to your duties and exhibit
integrity, an intrepidity and indomitable spirit in your work, no
power on earth can shake you. All evil powers holding Nigeria
hostage by their unbridled corruption, arrogance, vanity and
vindictiveness will be defeated.
The message of Buhari and Osinbajo in the Magu saga, is that
they have the courage, determination and commitment to fight evil
to standstill and that the darkness of corruption will not be
tolerated in the bright light of a sane, sanitized and corruption
free society they are trying to establish in Nigeria.
Let all of us, Nigerian masses, come out in our millions to stand
shoulder to shoulder with these exceptional leaders to kick evil,
fraud, looting and corruption out of Nigeria. I am personally
elated that I have now found an administration that I am ready to
serve with all my heart because of their basic decency and love for
Nigeria.
newtelegraphonline
In this Interview with JOHN CHIKEZIE, the chairman of
the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor
Itse Sagays, SAN gives an insight into why the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) loses more than winning
corruption cases in court
What is your committee doing to revive the
anti-corruption war especially as the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC loses more cases in court?
For now, appeals, arguments and points are being x-rayed and
prepared. This is simply because there is a difference between
justice and law. We don’t want a situation where one would apply
law and achieve injustice. So, we are working hard to ensure that
law and justice are both harmonized and also working hard on the
appeals.
Two government officials and some businessmen were
alleged to have stolen the sum of N52 trillion in the past seven
years. What is the government doing to recover the
fund?
They are all virtually being prosecuted right now. They are people
you know very well but I won’t mention their names. Although, they
include bankers and all the big bankers you know that were under
trial; some have being tried with plea bargain and they spent about
six months before they were eventually released. Hence, some have
been concluded while others are still going on. There is one of
them, for example, who has gone back as a governor and when he
finishes, he is going to be taken back for the trial.
Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo said it is costly to
recover some of these stolen funds. What has the government done so
far in this regards?
Well, the ones that are costly are those that are locked up abroad-
outside the shores of the country. Most especially, those ones that
at the face of it, appear to be willing to release the money but in
reality, they are not.
At times, there are huge deductions made and costs at the other
end. In several occasions, you find people who refer to themselves
as consultants, who are helping to trace these funds and
thereafter, present huge bills. So, these are some of the issues
experienced during the process.
The procedures can be complicated, especially when you have to go
through a court. So, those are the things causing or creating the
high cost or expenses.
What is the sum total of these stolen funds trapped in
some western countries?
It’s really impossible for me to quote the exact figures because
there are people who have a deeper knowledge of that than me. The
one I know that is outstanding is about $450 million in
Switzerland; there could be more which I don’t know but this is the
one I know of.
What are the difficulties or frustrations experienced in
the process of retrieving the looted money?
There are several ones like I said earlier. In some cases, they
would insist that you go to court to establish a case so that the
court can deliver a judgment in your favour. Like the ones in
Switzerland, although they are not insisting on that process and
are ready to return the money, but they are given conditions where
they want the United Nations to be the ones to actually detect how
the money should be spent, after we have received it. Therefore,
those are the things causing the problems.
Former vice president, Mohammed Namadi Sambo is raising
the alarm that security agents are desperate to nail him, any
faintest idea of this frequent raids on Sambo’s residence by
security operatives?
I have not the faintest idea as to what their agenda might be. I
only know a little as written and published in the papers. But one
thing I would say is that these agencies don’t act frivolously
because there must be something they must be looking for. And, it
may be unfair on the former VP, I would agree, especially because
of the repeated nature, but obviously, there is something important
they are unto. But I don’t know what it is since nobody has
consulted me or given me any information in that regard.
How would you rate Buhari, Osinbajo administration in
the war against corruption?
Since the passage of our first leaders, like Awolowo, Azikiwe and
Ahmadu Bello, we have not been lucky enough to have highly
principled, consistent, committed men of great integrity and honour
like President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo. Perhaps the only
other previous administration close to the present one, is the
Murtala Mohammed/Obasanjo Administration.
Having been victimized, brutalized, looted, marginalized and
contemptuously treated by past administrations, particularly the 12
year torture and brigandry of the PDP, Nigerians are extremely
lucky that Buhari and Osinbajo have come on a rescue mission to
bring us back from the brink of destruction.
We now have leaders who are in office to serve Nigeria and who
stand on integrity and high principles.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that no going
back on Ibrahim Magu despite Senate’s brouhaha. What is your
view?
By the statement released by the Acting President to-night, vowing
that he and the President will stand by Ibrahim Magu to the end, we
are re-assured that if you are committed to your duties and exhibit
integrity, an intrepidity and indomitable spirit in your work, no
power on earth can shake you. All evil powers holding Nigeria
hostage by their unbridled corruption, arrogance, vanity and
vindictiveness will be defeated.
The message of Buhari and Osinbajo in the Magu saga, is that
they have the courage, determination and commitment to fight evil
to standstill and that the darkness of corruption will not be
tolerated in the bright light of a sane, sanitized and corruption
free society they are trying to establish in Nigeria.
Let all of us, Nigerian masses, come out in our millions to stand
shoulder to shoulder with these exceptional leaders to kick evil,
fraud, looting and corruption out of Nigeria. I am personally
elated that I have now found an administration that I am ready to
serve with all my heart because of their basic decency and love for
Nigeria.
newtelegraphonline
Read more https://nairalaw.com/sagay-why-its-difficult-to-recover-450m-in-swiss-bank/