29th November, 2012
The call by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, that those found guilty of corruption should face the death penalty is, to say the least, draconian and should be rejected by all.
The Northern socio-political organisation in its proposal on the ongoing review of the constitution submitted to the National Assembly recommended that corruption must be recognised as a capital offence and therefore carry capital punishment.
The group argued that corruption has reached boiling point and must be tackled with draconian laws before it destroys the country.
The proponents argue that it was because of such a law in China that the country has gone from poverty to prosperity.
The death penalty, they argue, will cleanse Nigeria and serve as a deterrent to would be corrupt public servants.
We believe that these arguments are valid but death penalty is barbaric and pre-supposes that judges are above mistakes.
With death penalty for offenders, innocent people may be killed for offences they did not commit.
And if the mistake is realised, it would be too late to bring them back to life.
Politicians may also use it to blackmail their opponents.
Moreover, the death sentence proponents fail to identify the type of corrupt offences that would be punished by death and the types that would not.
For instance, should a politician who embezzled N10,000 be killed just like the one who stole billions of naira?
Would the public servants, corporate executives and politicians whose corruption related cases are in various courts at the moment also be affected by the new law yet to take effect?
No doubt, corruption has crippled Nigeria for a long time and must receive the attention it deserves but we also believe that it can be tackled with the existing laws.
Public servants and politicians are not corrupt because there are no laws to punish them, they are corrupt because the existing laws are not implemented.
In most cases, those accused of corruption are not prosecuted or convicted. And even those who are convicted receive light punishment.
The light sentences set a bad example to others who later embrace corruption, knowing that they will go scot-free.
Implementing our existing laws is more important than bringing another draconian law that may not serve any purpose.
If we must have a new law to tackle corruption, life jail for convicts and forfeiture of their loot to the state are enough punishments.
Judges and lawyers who help corrupt officials escape justice because of personal gains must also remember that their children will inherit the chaos they are leaving behind.
It is only when those who steal from public coffers are adequately punished that others would be deterred.