Anti-Corruption Conventions in Nigeria: Legal and Administrative Challenges

There is a trend in development discourse to
understand and explain the level of corruption in Nigeria, its anticorruption
crusade and why it is failing, as well as its level of
compliance with International standards of United Nations
Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) & African Union
Convention on Converting and Preventing Corruption) to which
Nigeria is a signatory. This paper discusses the legal and
Constitutional provisions relating to corrupt practices and safeguards
in Nigeria, as well as the obstacles to the implementation of these
Conventions.
The paper highlights the challenges posed to the Anti-Corruption
crusade by analysing the loopholes that exist both in administrative
structure and in scope of the relevant laws. The paper argues that
Nigerian Constitution did not make adequate provisions for the
implementation of the conventions, hence a proposal which will
ensure adequate provision for implementing the conventions to better
the lives of Nigerians. The paper concludes that there is the need to
build institutional parameters, adequate constitutional and structural
safeguards, as well as to synergise strategies, collaborations and
alliances to facilitate the timely domestication and implementation of
the conventions.

• Mohammed Albakariyu Kabir

• Anti-Corruption
• Corruption
• Convention
• domestication
• poverty
• State Parties.

[1] 1999-2003 the years of President Olusegun Obasanjo as Democratically
Elected President of Nigeria.
[2] A. Smith- “The Development of Corruption”, (Text of Ali Akilu
Memorial Lecture, Kaduna-Nigeria), 1976.
[3] Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.
[4] African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
2002.
[5] Catholic Secretariat Forum, 2003.
[6] Dr. Osita Agbu, ‘’Anti-Corruption Crusade in Nigeria: The Challenge of
Delivery’’ (Paper commissioned for the Kenya Meeting on New
Governments, Co-organized by the Government of Kenya, TI-Kenya
and Transparency International), October 11 – 13, 2004.
[7] Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment Act) 2004.
[8] Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act (ICPC),
2000.
[9] Lame & Odekunle (eds), Fighting Corruption and Organized Crime in
Nigeria: Challenge for the new Millennium, Spectrum Books, Ibadan.
2001.
[10] Lilian Ekeanyanwu, Review of the Legal and Political Challenges for
the Domesticition of Anti-Corruption Conventions in Nigeria, March
2006.
[11] M. Abbass, ‘’the Role of Anti-Corruption Committees of Nigerian
Legislatures and Anti-Corruption Transparency Monitoring Units
(ACTU) in the fight against Corruption’’, (Organized by ICPC, in
collaboration with the National Assembly Committees on Anti-
Corruption, held at Awalah Hotel, Bauchi) February 2007.
[12] Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
[13] Preamble to the United Nations Convention against Corruption
(UNCAC), 2003.
[14] The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap 56 Laws of the
Federation.
[15] The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
[16] The Criminal Code cap 42 Laws of the Federation.
[17] UN Human Development Index ranking 2014, www.undp.org
[18] www.unodc.org