The Anti-Corruption and Research Data-based Initiative, ARDI, which exposed Justice Walter Onnoghen for failing to declare his five bank accounts with about $3m last January, has begun another crusade to name judges who are engaged in corrupt acts in the ongoing election petitions tribunal across Nigeria.
Dennis Aghanya, executive director of ARDI, in a statement he issued on Sunday said: “We are monitoring the ongoing tribunal cases from the outcome of the last elections and compiling findings on the activities of judges soiling their hands. These are those who have still not learnt from the mistakes of others. We will forward our petition based on findings to the appropriate agency at the appropriate time.”
ARDI also advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to appoint persons facing corruption charges into his new cabinet. “As the Ninth National Assembly is inaugurated on June 11, President Buhari should not include names of Nigerians who are facing corruption charges with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or any other anti-graft agencies in the list of his proposed cabinet members to be forwarded to the National Assembly for approval.
“This has become necessary to avoid situations whereby cabinet members will be dipping their hands into the coffers of their ministries, departments or agencies to defend their corruption cases pressed against them by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agencies,” he said.
He added: “To achieve this, the EFCC should redouble its efforts to ensure that names of persons in this category are forwarded to Mr. President to guide him in his appointments,” he said.
