– The NHRC chairman, Prof Odinkalu has commended President Buhari’s antigraft war
– Prof Odinkalu has also warned Buhari of the pitfalls in his antigraft campaign
– Odinkalu has also berated public office holders who are robbing the nation
Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has strongly warned President Muhammadu Buhari against violation of human rights in the fight against corruption.
Prof Odinkalu sounded the note of warningon Wednesday, March 9, during a 1-day seminar organised by the Human Right Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch. The seminar was themed ‘War against corruption and observance of constitutional rights: Striking a balance’.
Odinkalu who noted that President Buhari has shown strong political will to fight corruption since he assumed office, however, warned that the inalienable rights of Nigerians must never be trampled upon as the president forges on.
The NHRC boss further noted that the fight against corruption should not be left with the President alone but be fought by all Nigerians.
“ One thing that appears to have changed since the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2015 is the appearance of a firm will to address the problem of impunity for widespread corruption in Nigeria. So far, some leading members of the legal profession appear also to have been at the receiving end of some of the more high. profile “invites” by anti-corruption agencies. This has been disquieting to many at the Bar,”
Odinkalu said. Odinkalu also lamented that some lawyers are being prosecuted for their alleged role in corrupt practices, adding that “ the Nigerian legal profession has for long hardly done enough to address the perception that it facilitates corruption and clothes those who perpetrate it with impunity.”
The National Mirror reports that Odinkalu also berated public office holders who used their position to accumulate wealth, saying that such ones berates public trust.
“ By so doing, they corrode the public authority and do incalculable damage to the capabilities of the state. In other words, grand corruption violates human rights on a grand scale and by ensuring impunity for those responsible for it, it also destroys the institutions of the rule of law and subverts the notion of equality before the law,” he said.
He however enjoined President Buhari to respect human rights while fighting corruption. In his contribution, the former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Samuel Ilori (rtd) warned the President against violating human right in the fight against corruption.
“ The President has been fighting corruption and impunity since the beginning of this administration but he must do so within the confinement of the law and respect human rights,” Ilori said.
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