An army of 95 Nigerian civil society groups has banded together to demand that the United Kingdom end the country’s role as a safe haven for Nigeria’s looters.
The call comes in a letter sent to Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday as he prepares to host global leaders in London for the International Anti-Corruption Summit next month.
The conference is scheduled for May 12, and President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected principally to combat runaway corruption in Nigeria, has been invited to attend.
The groups said they will ask the President to represent their views at the Summit, and that they will be prepared to further its outcomes once commitments have been made.
They told Prime Minister Cameron: “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.”
Citing Nigeria as one of those countries that have most bitterly suffered the impact, the groups noted that despite the blessings of nature which endowed the nation with abundant oil wealth, its 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.”
They declared those efforts to be “sadly undermined” if countries such as the UK are welcoming Nigeria’s corrupt to hide their ill-gotten gains in its 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 letter said. “The problem is clear, now is time to do something about it.”
They drew attention to several Nigerian officials named in the Panama Papers, including the allegation that Nigeria Senate President Bukola Saraki, who has dual British/Nigeria citizenships, has an undeclared £5.7 million property in his wife’s name in London, saying it raises concerns about how it was possible to hide undeclared wealth in the UK property market.
They described the summit as an opportunity for the major financial centres to finally acknowledge the role they are playing in perpetuating corruption, pointing out the irony that the countries that pride themselves on their own lack of corruption are the very ones providing most of the corruption services to Nigeria’s corrupt officials.
“Corruption is not an issue limited to developing countries or the global south,” they said. “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.”
Signatories:
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 – Geaorge
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