Transparency International accuses President Jonathan of encouraging corruption

An anti-corruption group, Transparency International, has faulted the decision of the Federal Government to drop corruption charges against Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

TI expressed this dissatisfaction in a statement by its Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Chantal Uwimana, on Thursday.

The Federal Government had charged Mohammed Abacha for helping his father to steal and launder about N446.3bn allegedly stolen from the government’s coffers between 1995 and 1998.

But Adoke, acting on behalf of the Federal Government last Wednesday, asked Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to strike out the charges on the grounds of “fresh facts” that just emerged concerning the case.

But TI described the withdrawal as an act of encouraging impunity, calling for “an immediate reinstatement of all corruption charges previously held against Abacha.”

It explained that during the late Gen. Abacha’s lifetime, he was investigated for corruption and human rights violations.

It also recalled that the United States government had frozen US$458m in assets it claimed the late Abacha and his co-conspirators stole from Nigeria.

It said, “Allowing the theft of public funds to go unpunished sends the wrong message that those with powerful connections can act with impunity. The case should have been fully prosecuted and the government has not given adequate reasons for dropping the charges.