Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that Nigerians should not offer bribes to any law enforcement agent whether for obtaining drivers licenses, passports or to clear goods at the ports.
Osinbajo said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the anti-corruption conference tagged “Collaborative Approach to Eradicating the Evils of Corruption in Nigeria.’’
The conference was organised by Osinbajo’s office and that of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC).
Osinbajo said: “The Supreme Court in a lead judgment of Akaahs JSC, recently held that forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act is a civil process which neither requires the criminal conviction of the property owner nor his innocence.
“This opens the door for forfeiture of assets that the purported owner cannot explain, whether or not an allegation of corruption is made.
“We are now poised to deal with the wider problem of systemic corruption; especially where the average person interacts with government.
“Corruption in the issuance of contracts, licenses and other government approvals; there is no reason why any Nigerian should have to give bribe to law enforcement agents for obtaining drivers licenses or passports, or to clear goods at our ports.
“All the relevant government agencies have shown a serious commitment to eradicating these forms of corruption; our next level is to create the environment for collaboration between our agencies, civil society and other stake holders.’’
Chairman of PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, advised anti-corruption and security agencies to share intelligence to improve the fight against corruption.
