President Bola Tinubu has been urged by the Civil Rights and Anti-Corruption Network (CRACON) to form a special investigation committee to look into claims of conflict of interest and abuse of authority against Defence Minister Muhammad Abubakar Badaru.
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The group encouraged the president to show consistency in his administration’s battle against corruption by giving Badaru the same scrutiny that was given to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu, in a statement released on Wednesday by CRACON’s coordinator, Folashade Olumiya. “In the fight against corruption, the president cannot afford to be selective. The petition states, “If a committee was established to look into Betta Edu’s alleged financial misdeeds, then the same must be done in the case of Defence Minister Muhammad Badaru.”
The demand from CRACON comes after the Young Guardians of Accountability (YGA) filed a previous petition accusing Badaru of breaking federal law by continuing to have active economic interests while serving in public service. The group said that in spite of obvious legislative limitations, the minister nevertheless operates private businesses, including a Bureau de Change.
If the accusations against Badaru are not addressed, CRACON claims that public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption posture may be damaged. Nigerians have been consistently reassured by this administration that the law applies to everyone. However, it will give the impression that the fight against corruption is selective if the military minister is not held to the same standards of scrutiny as other people who have been accused of corruption, the statement continued.
“We cannot afford for some people to be the subject of investigations and prosecutions while others are exempt from responsibility.” In addition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) looking into Badaru, the anti-corruption watchdog maintains that a presidential committee be established to guarantee accountability and transparency. “National security depends heavily on the Defence Ministry, and its leadership’s integrity must be unquestionable.
We urge the president to act right now because failing to do so will give Nigerians the wrong impression about his administration’s dedication to combating corruption,” Olumiya continued. The organisation also expressed worries that the minister’s purported private business dealings could represent a threat to national security. The fact that the person in charge of Nigeria’s defence and security is allegedly engaged in financial transactions that might present a conflict of interest is quite concerning. The safety and security of the country are at stake here, not simply corruption.
Mr. Badaru must resign if the accusations are accurate in order to permit a thorough and impartial investigation, the statement said. The president was also encouraged by CRACON to reassure Nigerians that his administration is still dedicated to maintaining accountability in all areas.
“We are urging the president to take bold action and demonstrate that the anti-corruption program of his government is more than simply empty words. Nigerians are keeping a careful eye on this government because its legitimacy is on the line.
