NASS, political, business elite frustrating anti-graft war – Sagay

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay, has accused a gang of political, business and banking elite of frustrating President Muhammad Buhari’s anti-corruption war.
Sagay also said the Nigerian Police and anti-graft agencies should investigate lawyers who receive proceeds of crime as fees.
He said this on Tuesday while delivering a lecture in Lagos, entitled “The many afflictions of anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria”. “These SANs (Senior Advocates of Nigeria) deserve the harshest punishment of all. Anti-graft agencies and the police must monitor and investigate the activities of lawyers who receive a share of the proceeds of crime as their fees,” he said.
“The anti-corruption struggle is like a long distance race. It cannot be concluded overnight. The opposition is extremely powerful, using state resources to fight back.
“What we are going to see is a progressive dismantling of the corruption infrastructure. Convictions will occur now and again, but there will be frequent forfeitures of looted funds and other types of property. Remove stolen loot from the culprit and his life becomes miserable.”
Sagay said Nigerian lawmakers are in office for themselves and not the people.
He said apart from a basic salary of N2.4 million per month, the lawmakers earn allowances that totals N3.2 billion per annum. The PACAC chairman also said the legislators have resisted the fight against corruption by rejecting the right of the executive “to choose the persons who will spearhead that struggle.” He alleged that since July 2015, the national assembly had not “a single bill” promoting the anti-corruption war.
“The clear impression is created that Nigerian legislators are in office for themselves and not for the populace.
“Not surprising, the national assembly has not passed a single bill for the promotion of anti-corruption war since it commenced business in July 2015.