‘Buhari must subvert judiciary in anti-graft war’—Prof. Femi Odekunle

A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Femi Odekunle, has urged President
Muhammadu Buhari, to use executive powers to subvert the
shenanigans of the judiciary for the anti-graft war to succeed.

Odekunle, who accused the judiciary of shielding corrupt lawyers
and judges, said the government needs to break the rule of law to
win the fight against corruption.

He stated these when he appeared on Focus Nigeria, a programme
on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday morning.

Odekunle said the judiciary has failed to support the federal
government’s anti-graft war.

He said: “The only problem we are having is that we are not
having the full cooperation of the legal profession in the matter
(corruption). Lawyers and judges have this sentimental
affiliation.

“The legal profession felt threatened by the stance of this
administration on corruption, about the role of the legal
profession, about the senior lawyers and about the judiciary.

“So there was a kind of development of some subconscious to
protect their own. Perhaps there must be a way in which they can be
reached to say the interest of the nation must come first.

“We have to find a way of breaking into this and one way of
breaking into this is to engage in what I said. For example,
somebody was quarrelling with me and I am being honest, without
breaking the law. Fighting corruption involves roforofo fight.”

A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Femi Odekunle, has urged President
Muhammadu Buhari, to use executive powers to subvert the
shenanigans of the judiciary for the anti-graft war to
succeed.

Odekunle, who accused the judiciary of shielding corrupt lawyers
and judges, said the government needs to break the rule of law to
win the fight against corruption.

He stated these when he appeared on Focus Nigeria, a programme
on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday morning.

Odekunle said the judiciary has failed to support the federal
government’s anti-graft war.

He said: “The only problem we are having is that we are not
having the full cooperation of the legal profession in the matter
(corruption). Lawyers and judges have this sentimental
affiliation.

“The legal profession felt threatened by the stance of this
administration on corruption, about the role of the legal
profession, about the senior lawyers and about the judiciary.

“So there was a kind of development of some subconscious to
protect their own. Perhaps there must be a way in which they can be
reached to say the interest of the nation must come first.

“We have to find a way of breaking into this and one way of
breaking into this is to engage in what I said. For example,
somebody was quarrelling with me and I am being honest, without
breaking the law. Fighting corruption involves roforofo fight.”