Anti-corruption advocate Abba Kaka has publicly urged President Bola Tinubu to propose a bill to the National Assembly that would introduce the death penalty for serious corruption offenses in Nigeria......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Speaking during an interview with Charles Aniagolu on Arise TV, Kaka stressed the need for strong punitive measures to combat corruption, which he claims has severely impacted Nigeria’s wealth, global reputation, and future prospects. He argued that without bold actions, corruption will continue to erode the nation’s integrity and discourage international investment.
Kaka cited examples from countries like China, where harsh penalties, including capital punishment, have been enforced to deter high-level corruption. “Financial corruption in Nigeria has reached a point where it would not be tolerated in places like China. There, the answer is clear and straightforward – corruption is met with the harshest penalties. Nigeria must adopt a similar approach if we hope to make real progress,” Kaka said.
Kaka also highlighted the growing threat of cybercrime, which he claims has become a serious issue, particularly among younger Nigerians, including university students. “These cybercrimes are damaging our reputation globally,” he stated. “I don’t want to travel abroad with my green passport and be seen as a criminal because of the actions of a few young people trying to scam others. It reflects poorly on all of us.”
According to Kaka, cybercriminals have contributed to Nigeria’s negative image, affecting not only citizens’ perception abroad but also the country’s ability to attract foreign investments. He emphasized that the rising cybercrime rates, often involving young people using their technical skills for fraudulent activities, is a trend that needs immediate action.
Kaka proposed two legislative actions for tackling these issues: one, a bill enforcing the death penalty for severe corruption cases; and two, a second bill to enhance and better equip Nigeria’s law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to enable them to effectively combat both financial corruption and cybercrime.
“We need a death penalty law specifically targeting corruption-related offenses. It should be sent to the National Assembly without delay,” Kaka stated. “Secondly, these agencies need more authority, resources, and training to pursue offenders. We need to empower our police, EFCC, and ICPC to take down high-level criminals and corrupt officials.”
Kaka admitted that the passage of such a bill might face opposition in the National Assembly, as some lawmakers could be directly impacted. He noted the importance of public support to pressure legislators to approve the bill despite potential resistance. “It’s uncertain whether lawmakers would pass this bill, as many of them could potentially be affected by it,” Kaka acknowledged.
In addition to supporting the death penalty for corruption, Kaka proposed a new framework for training and equipping anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies. He suggested that part of the funds recovered from corruption cases should be allocated directly to these agencies to enhance their ability to perform. “For these agencies to truly tackle corruption and large-scale cybercrime, they need significant upgrades in training and resources. Allowing them to reinvest part of the money they recover will help build their capacity,” Kaka explained.
Kaka concluded by calling on President Tinubu to take decisive action, stressing that stronger enforcement and zero tolerance toward corruption and cybercrime are essential to preserving Nigeria’s global standing and economic future.