From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A House of Representatives member, Hon. Samuel Onuigbo, has pleaded with the executive arm of government and other security agencies responsible for the fight against corruption to always allow the rule of law to prevail.
The federal lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North Constituency, Abia State, said that the fight might not be meaningful unless observance of the rule of law were strictly entrenched.
Speaking in Abuja at the weekend, Onuigbo, who assessed the challenges in the fight against corruption, commended the judiciary for its courage to stand up and resist imposition of injustice and shortcuts in the trial of some cases.
He threw his weight behind the war against corruption but insisted that the principles of separation of powers among the three arms of government must be respected by those involved.
“Government has started well the anticorruption crusade in this country but the source of grave concern is the approach to the fight. A lot of people are apprehensive over the approach to the fight.
“In democracy, there are three arms of government and there is separation of power to prevent abuse of power and to also serve as check and balance and these involve the legislature, executive and judiciary in that order.
“No society is perfect, every society has one challenge of corruption in one way or the other. In a democratic government, you ensure that the rules are strictly adhered to so as to create confidence and ensure that justice alone is manifestly done.
“In our fight against corruption, we must ensure that all arms of government are allowed to function unhindered. Without that, we would be in a big trouble.
“We expect government to fight corruption but government must allow the rule of law to prevail. Court decisions must be obeyed by all arms of government, especially the executive arm of government.
“In the absence of the rule law, foreign investors will not be willing to come and invest in a country where there is no rule of law and where there is no justice.
“So, my appeal to the government and other agencies involved in the fight against corruption is that the rule of law must be allowed to prevail. No arm of government should be arm-twisted to do injustice against any Nigeria citizen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Onuigbo, Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, has disclosed that Nigeria is recharging the Lake Chad with $15 billion to address the harsh climate change emanating from the drying up of Lake Chad.
Onuigbo told journalists that the money would be provided by Nigeria, world bodies and international donors, as parts of efforts to bring the lake back to life.
He hinted that the drying up of the lake was already leading to the grave loss of livelihood for many people in the Lake Chad region.