Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has expressed concerns over the loss of confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system by many citizens. He emphasized the need for the lawful prosecution and sanction of political officeholders who have committed crimes in the country to rebuild trust in the judiciary.
Rafsanjani’s comments come in light of recent developments surrounding the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is facing allegations of bribery and money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an arrest warrant for her and is seeking her extradition to Nigeria.
While commending the efforts of the EFCC, Rafsanjani also pointed out challenges faced by the anti-graft agency due to executive interference, which he believes hinders its effectiveness.
He expressed concerns that some Nigerians doubt whether justice will be served in cases involving high-profile individuals like Diezani Alison-Madueke. He cited past instances where corrupt officials were investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC, only to later receive pardons from the government, eroding confidence in anti-corruption efforts.
Rafsanjani attributed political interference as a major reason for the discontinuation of prosecutions of corrupt government officials and urged the government to demonstrate sincerity in handling corruption cases. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding Nigerians’ confidence in the country’s judicial system.
Additionally, he called for individuals facing corruption charges to step aside from government positions pending the outcome of investigations, in line with best practices and the principle of innocence until proven guilty.
Rafsanjani’s comments highlight the broader issue of public trust in the Nigerian justice system and the challenges faced by anti-corruption agencies in their efforts to combat corruption at all levels of government.