Sen. Ndume urges Buhari to sign ‘Unexplained Wealth Order’

Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign into law the ‘Unexplained Wealth Order’, as a way to strengthen the fight against corruption.

Ndume made the call in Ibadan on Saturday while delivering the 2021 Distinguish Leadership Lecture Series, organised by the University of Ibadan.

Speaking on the topic ‘The Unexplained Wealth and the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria’, held at the Trenchard Hall of the University, Ndume also advised Buhari to prevail on the National Assembly to pass the Proceeds of Crime Bill in time “regardless of bickering on the management of the proceeds recovered.”

Also Read: Senate tackles SEC over rising personnel cost

Senator Ndume added that there was a need to look at the incidence of corruption, “most especially, those occasioned by public officers who are in trust of public wealth.

“Our crusade against this monster called corruption should start from politicians, top public servants, civil servants down to local governments’ staff.

“For the perpetrators, it is not difficult to identify the tendencies exhibited by these officers; acquiring landed property in and outside the country, having fat bank deposits, buying expensive cars, or marrying so many wives.”

Ndume further said that the fight against corruption was a fight for the nation and must start from the top to the bottom.

“It changes our good culture, it breeds injustice and impunity, every citizen has a role to play.”

He further called on relevant anti-corruption agencies such as Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Economic and Financial Crime Commission and Department of State Security to take whistleblowers seriously, carry out investigations on whistleblowing reports, “however casual it may be”.