THE Nigerian Bar Association has said that the Federal Government’s fight against corruption should be in line with the rule of law.
The NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, who made this remark Sunday night, explained that any attempt by government to fight corruption with backhand tactics would mean using graft to fight graft.
Alegeh, who spoke at opening of the 56th annual conference of the association with the theme, ‘Democracy and Economic Development, pointed out that the NBA was standing with the Federal Government in its fight against corruption.
He, however, added that the association would not support any act of taking what belonged to a man and give it to another man.
“We stand with the government in its fight against corruption; we recognise that our country is bedevilled with corruption, but we believe that corruption should be fought according to the law.
“Any attempt to fight corruption with backhand tactics will mean using corruption to fight corruption. If the fight against corruption is to collect what belongs to one man and give it to another man, then count us, the NBA out,” Alegeh stressed.
The NBA president criticised the delivery of contrasting judgements by the judiciary on similar matters, adding that the association was embarrassed by the development.
Alegeh called on relevant authorities in the judiciary to address the issue, describing it as a shame to the third arm of government.
“We are embarrassed by the conflicting court judgements delivered by judges on similar matters. We call on the Chief Justice of the Federation to address this issue,” he added.
Alegeh also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission to look into the problem of 60 per cent of prison inmates awaiting trial for many years rather than delving into matters concerning politicians and oil spills.
In his remark, the Rivers State Governor and Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the NBA conference, Chief Nyesom Wike, said though Nigeria was practising democracy, it would not amount to prosperity without work.
Wike lamented that the country was still lagging behind economically despite its economic potential.
Earlier, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, had explained that his administration had banned street begging in the state, adding that his government had improved the lives of the people in the area of agriculture, health and education.
PUNCH NG
