Britain must tackle its role as a “safe haven” for white-collar criminals who steal Nigeria’s wealth and resources for personal gain, almost 100 Nigerian civil society groups have told David Cameron.
Key reformists from across Nigeria’s political spectrum issued the plea in a sternly-worded letter sent to the British prime minister on Thursday. The letter was sent to UK Prime Minister David Cameron by a consortium of Nigerian civil society organizations.
The letter’s signatories, who represent a broad base of Nigeria’s progressive, anti-corruption and human rights groups, demanded David Cameron tackle Nigerian corrupt money laundered via luxury properties, shops, schools and several other sectors of the UK economy.
Nigerian Civil Society calls on Cameron to crack down on UK’s role in global corruption. https://t.co/NWptJMBHou
— David McNair (@David_McNair) April 28, 2016
Their demands were coming just two weeks ahead of an anti-corruption summit due to be held in London, which will provide a platform for governments, lawyers, white-collar crime experts and business officials to propose solutions to corruption in all its forms.
Corruption at Large
According to British global anti-corruption think tank Transparency International (TI), the world’s anti-corruption architecture has been locked in stagnation for over a decade, with key governments obstructing progress. The result of this trend is empty rhetoric advocating change in the absence of concrete action.
While some anti-corruption experts suggest the May 12 summit could forge alliances between governments bent on tackling corruption on a global scale, others are less hopeful.
Nigerian civil society groups, although, commended Cameron for taking a suspicious leading role on the global fight against corruption, the group warned the time has come for him to take a long hard look at his own back yard.
The letter’s signatories stressed the devastating effect corruption can have on ordinary citizens, stunting economic growth and exacerbating violent conflict and mass migration in its wake.
“Our Nigeria is one of those countries that has most bitterly suffered the impact. Despite the blessings of nature, which endowed us with abundant oil wealth, our infrastructure is deplorable,” the letter said.
“Classrooms overflow while teachers go underpaid and parents are forced to give ‘gifts’ to ensure their children get attention. Police officers spend their time shaking down motorists or locking them up on some spurious pretext so as to extort a few naira.
“It is because of these abuses that the people of Nigeria participated with unparalleled energy in the 2015 presidential election. Now we are embarked on a nationwide anti-corruption campaign.”
The letter went on to say that Nigerian anti-corruption efforts are severely undercut by UK authorities, who turn a blind eye to vast channels of ill-gotten gains pulsating through the heart of Britain.
“These efforts are sadly undermined if countries such as your own are welcoming our corrupt to hide their ill-gotten gains in your luxury homes, department stores, car dealerships, private schools and anywhere else that will accept their cash with no questions asked,” the letter said.
“The role of London’s property market as vessels to conceal stolen wealth has been exposed in court documents, reports, documentaries and more. The problem is clear, now is time to do something about it.”
The United Kingdom and a host of several Western countries (France, USA, Switzerland included) has long been a lucrative hiding spot for corrupt Nigerian and African politicians. It is unfortunate that most African public office holders, past and present, will deprive their economy and people the needed funds to uplift their condition, but gladly siphoned such to these rich and developed countries and thereby contributing to the growth of their economy – Insane.
Wake Up Africa!
Please read the letter below:
Abuja, 28th April 2016
Dear Prime Minister,
As you prepare to host global leaders in London for the International Anti-Corruption Summit, civil society in Nigeria is calling on you to take serious action to end the UK’s role as a safe haven for our corrupt individuals, who steal our wealth for their own private gain.The leadership you have taken on fighting corruption has seen the world begin to grasp the devastating effects of corruption, not only for human development and economic prosperity, but also in contributing to violent conflict and mass migration, which in turn feed the cycle of poverty and corruption.
Our Nigeria is one of those countries that has most bitterly suffered the impact. Despite the blessings of nature, which endowed us with abundant oil wealth, our infrastructure is deplorable. Classrooms overflow while teachers go underpaid and parents are forced to give “gifts” to ensure their children get attention; police officers spend their time shaking down motorists or locking them up on some spurious pretext so as to extort a few naira. It is because of these abuses that the people of Nigeria participated with unparalleled energy in the 2015 presidential election. Now we are embarked on a nationwide anti-corruption campaign.
But these efforts are sadly undermined if countries such as your own are welcoming our corrupt to hide their ill-gotten gains in your luxury homes, department stores, car dealerships, private schools and anywhere else that will accept their cash with no questions asked. The role of London’s property market as vessels to conceal stolen wealth has been exposed in court documents, reports, documentaries and more. The problem is clear, now is time to do something about it.
Recently top Nigerian officials have been named in the Panama Papers. For example, it is alleged that Bukola Saraki, the President of the Nigerian Senate, has an undeclared £5.7 million property in London, in his wife’s name. This raises concerns about how it was possible to hide undeclared wealth in the UK property market.
This summit is an opportunity for the major financial centres to finally acknowledge the role they are playing in perpetuating corruption. It is ironic that the countries that pride themselves on their own lack of corruption are the very ones providing most of the corruption services to our corrupt officials.
Corruption is not an issue limited to developing countries or the global south. It’s a truly international problem. We hope your summit will help bring about real change and raise the ambition of anti-corruption efforts around the world.
We will be calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to represent our views at the Summit. We are ready and eager to further its outcomes once commitments have been made.
Yours Sincerely,
Signatories to the Letter
| Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) | Mallam YZ Yau Centre For Information Technology and Development (CITAD) | Jimoh Salman Good Governance Team |
| Salaudeen Hashim West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)– Nigeria Platform | Jaye Gaskia Protest2Power | Ezenwa Nwagu Partners for Electoral Reforms (PER) |
| Okeke Anya State Of The Union – Nigeria Campaign (SOTU) | Adefolahan Lukman Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC) | Moses Oluwaseyi Civil Advancement Research and Rural Empowerment Initiative |
| Idris Musa Centre for Justice and Peace Development | Chom Bagu Search for Common Ground | Sis Rosemary Ukata Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) |
| Chief (Mrs.) Funmilayo Oladippupo United Nigeria Peace Foundation | Ariori Jemina Federation Of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) | Azeez Adewale Ahmed International Centre for Development and Budget Advocacy |
| Abdulkareem Tijani Socio-Economic & Research Development Centre (SERDEC) | Abanka Musa Refocusing Nigerian Talents Organization | Fisayo Aransiola Steps to Life Nigeria |
| Okeke Anya National Procurement Watch Platform | Ariyo Owa Campaign for Democracy | Abiodun Martins Pro-Poor Initiative |
| Mathew Elvis Advocacy for rural Engagement Initiative | Mustapha Mohammed Democracy Action Group - Kano | Kyauta Giwa Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) |
| Kaka Chris Trade Network Initiative | George Monye Majesty Community and Rural Development Centre | Ibeh, Vivien I Foundation for Peace and Security Education |
| Sam Itodo YIAGA | Dudu Manuga RECHDI- Gombe | Abel Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women - Kaduna |
| Theophilus Ekpon Centre for Sustainable Development and Education in Africa | Gimba Joseph Centre for Peace Education and Development – Taraba | Josephine Alabi Keen and Care Initiative |
| Ignineweka Cyril Progressive Movement of Nigeria | Dr Fatima Zanna Gana Purple Hearts Foundation – Borno | Fiona Lovaff Lovatt Foundation – Kano |
| Nita Byack – George Actor’s Guild of Nigeria | Bassey Bassey GREENCODE | Olatunji Olanrewaju Adopt-A-Camp |
| JaneFrancis Duru Gender Care Initiative | Edward Olutoke Association of Nigeria Tenants | Comerade Mbami Aliya Sabka Prisons Inmate Development Initiative |
| Veronica Thomas Ash Foundation – Bauchi | Umma Iliyasu Mohammed Girl Child Concern | Edel-Quinn Agbaegbu Every Woman Hope Centre |
| Samie Ihejirika Strategic Empowerment and Mediation Agency – Kaduna | Dr. Tunji Asaolu African Youths International Development | Emmanuel Onyema Crime Free & Peace Initiative |
| Prince Henry Ezike Community Of San’Egido Nigeria | Hon. Hassan Abubakar ALFACARE | Sylvester Uhaa Citizens United For the Rehabilitation of Errants |
| Leyai Ala Peace and Social Foundation – Bayelsa | Babatunde Adegbesan GEOSCIENES | Sani Sheriff 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative |
| Liberty Oseni Arms of Hope Foundation | Becky Samuel Youths For Peace Foundation | Philip Jalgior ERA/FoEN |
| Audu Yerima Charles ASSAPIN | Osai Ejigho Alliances for Africa | Theresa Kelubia BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights – Lagos |
| Afolabi Bukola WARD-C | Ada Agina-Ude GADA | Ademola Olukanmi Beautiful Eves of Africa |
| Mimido Achakpa Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP) | Onyejowu Sunday Winning Hearts International | Sunday Ebi Winning Hearts International |
| Chief Joy Ezeilo Women’s Aid Collective (WOCOL) | Mrs. Ene Ede Equity Advocates | Felicia Iyore Onibon Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All |
| Peter Egwuda Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication | Idris Maigari Lawanti Community Development Foundation | Emmanuel Etim Stop Aids Alliance |
| Idowu Adewale Media Rights Agenda | Gbadamosi John Gbadamosi Freedom of Information Coalition | Dr. Nosa Aladeselu Gender Development and Education |
| Comrade Nelson Nwafor Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development – Enugu | Okie Hart Grassroot Coalition For Transparency and Good Governance | Stella Okafor |
| Lizzy Igbine NIWAFA | Aliyu Kawu RAYSIDA Int’l – Taraba | Ibrahim Maliki Rural Integrated Development Initiative |
| Tony Agoro Needy Response Care Initiative – Gombe | Ahmad Ibrahim Care For Life Mission | Esther Simon Dayspring Development Initiative |
| Grace Samuel Kishimi Shelter Care Foundation | Sani Adamu Jauro Heart for Children Initiative | Ali Usman Rambo GESDI – Yobe |
| Mohammed Wuyo Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress | Hadiza Mohammed Women Right Initiative | Usman Hassan Abdullahi Youth Federation for World Peace Ambassadors Foundation |
| Ann Darman Gender Equality & Peace Development Centre | Jimoh Olawale Gender and Children Support Initiative | Usman Mohammed Inusa Waka Multi-purpose for Social Change |
| Justina Yakubu Centre for Human Rights & Citizens Advancement | Mary Emmanuel Community Resource Initiative | Kingsley Yallings Centre for Justice and Empowerment |
| Haliru Mohammed YETIM Care Foundation | Sagir Shehu Mustapha Rariyangoro Youth Empowerment Initiative | |
