A notable human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has advised President Bola Tinubu to take a stand against corruption.
He expressed concern about high-profile politicians currently facing corruption charges, yet visiting the Presidential Villa.
Falana voiced his concerns during a commemorative event in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday, July 10, 2023, celebrating Aare Afe Babalola’s 60 years at the Bar.
“Some of those who are going in and out of the Villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country,” he declared.
“So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community.”
The respected lawyer urged the President and his administration to demonstrate effective leadership.
His call to action was not only directed towards the President but to other influential figures present at the event as well, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku.
Falana proposed a return to an era of integrity, where anyone accused of corruption, with a case pending before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), would not be appointed to an authoritative position.
Taking a cue from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks at the 2023 Presidential Inauguration Interdenominational Church Service, Falana urged the President to lead a campaign against corruption.
He was referring to Mrs Tinubu’s statement: “God has blessed my family. We don’t need the wealth of Nigeria to survive but to do the right thing.”
He believes that with such a campaign, led by the President, Nigeria can “take its rightful place in the comity of nations”.
Falana highlighted the severity of corruption in Nigeria, describing it as having reached a “very dangerous dimension”.
According to him, influential public officers are stealing funds intended for the development of public infrastructures, causing an alarming amount of suffering and death.
He concluded, “So when a country gets to that stage, corruption is now a crime against humanity.”