NIGERIA IMPROVES IN CORRUPTION RANKING MADE BY THE CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX 2022, ARE HER LEGAL BODIES STIMULATOR TO THIS ACT? IF NO, WHY IS THERE AN UPSURGE? PROFFER WAYS TO MITIGATE CORRUPTION IN OUR NATION

 Corruption is such a colossal word as it encompasses lot of things and different scholars have tried to give their definition to it. In my opinion, corruption is a big word but it starts with the smallest of things, people have this big idea whenever the word corruption is mentioned, however it could be the smallest thing we did not imagine. Corruption is simply an arbitrary abuse of power for personal gains.

The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) was established in 1995 to serve as a global indicator of public sector corruption, since its inception CPI has with aid of field experts evaluated corruptions in different countries by placing them in ranks accordingly from the least to the highest. The evaluation of the CPI has been proven as credible and reliable as the CPI takes into account Thirteen different surveys and assessments from Twelve institutions located in different parts of the world2. 

Following the above, research has it that more than a hundred Nigerians used anonymous companies to buy properties worth £350 Million in the United Kingdom since 1990 in which both former and current public officials are reportedly on the list3 and there has been failure to investigate these and many others on the part of the government. However, the CPI published the 2022 Corruption Perception Index in January 2023 ranking 180 countries on a scale of 100 (very clean) to a scale of 0 (highly corrupt)4 based on the occurrence in those countries between 1st of May, 2021 to the 30th of April, 2022. It is pertinent to state that Nigeria ranked 150 on this list with the score of 24 out 100 compared to her rank of 146 in 2019 with the score of 26 out of 100 and this just simply shows the rate at which corruption has intensified in Nigeria. 

Furthermore, it will be ignorant to say that these corrupt acts has only flown from the government, leaving out every other sector. Corruption in Nigeria is a constant phenomenon and has been even before the colonisation where the local leaders only cared for their pockets while selling the rest of the society to be exploited by the colonisers. Hence, the independence in 1960 changed nothing rather gave more grounds to exploiters, not excluding the legal bodies as new ways have been invented; siphoning public funds, bribery, sidelining the public for their families in employment embezzlement, vote rigging, money laundering, evading the law etc.

Moreover, it should be known that the legal body is a major player in this; law making body (legislature) propose bills with lacuna that appears as though it favours the public on the surface while in fact it works directly in their favour. The judiciary on the other hand, are appointed by the govemment (either the President or Governors as the case maybe) when their duty is to ensure the supremacy of the law and proper interpretation of the law to everyone including their employers (the government). 

Upon examining different cases of corruption5 starting from Nnamdi Azikwe in 1944 up till the last government administration of Muhammadu Buhari, it is crystal clear that corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten deep to the extent that the law no longer has its meaning or hold any power against influential people as they hold the power; the law works for them and in their favour.

Notwithstanding, the issue of corruption might not be completely eradicated but it can be remedied and this can only surface as a result of the decision made by individuals as well as the joint efforts of the ton. Each person must decide on their own to uphold upright behaviours and be an example to people around them. Also, note that this process cannot effect change immediately but as years pass by the results will erupt. 

WRITTEN BY: ENIOLA BEATRICE OLATAYO

State Code: OS/23A/1058