Report rates Buhari average in anti-graft war

Report on the implementation of commitments by Nigeria at the 2016 London Anti-corruption Summit has rated the President Muhammadu Buhari anti-corruption fight as average.

The report revealed that of the 31 commitments made by Nigeria at the London summit, only three had being completed, five yet to be implemented and 20 still on-going.

Executive director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) David Ugolor, during the presentation of the report yesterday in Abuja, pointed out that although commendable progress had been made in certain areas, there was the need for the National Assembly to accelerate action in the passage of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition bill.

The report maintained although Nigeria committed to work with interested countries to share information between respective public private partnerships (PPPs) to ensure effective response to international money laundering, no evidence of new approach to forge working relation with foreign counterparts on information sharing except for what is being done by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It, however, stressed the need for government to adopt a more robust approach in dealing with money laundering, especially through the new Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

ANEEJ called on the independent financial intelligence unit to publish regular update of its activities.

Ugolor, who pointed out that though progress had been made in the establishment of transparency and accountability in the recovery and utilisation of looted assets, expressed concern over the slow pace of legislative action in the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, which is expected to institutionalise good practice in the areas.

For the country to make reasonable progress in keeping to the commitments, he urged the civil society to intensify advocacy efforts in ensuring that the commitments are properly implemented, stressing the need for the advocacy to move from critical approach to meaningful engagement.