Corporate Crimes In Nigeria: Welcome To The New Age!

Editor’s note: Ini Akpan Morgan, Naij.com guest columnist, offers his arguments for why President Muhammadu Buhari should visualize his war against corruption not only in terms of financial crimes. Ini Morgan insists there are more serious crimes against the foundation of our nationhood – social, systemic and corporate offences,  far more dangerous to the state agencies, – that may cause structural collapse if not attended to.

I could not but put the current political “mixed grill” on paper. It is unfortunate that in Nigeria we have some leaders, who are only good at doing the wrong things, insisting that their obnoxious acts should be seen differently from the evil results they generate. It is expected that leaders should be flawless in terms of personal integrity and self-respect. Even when a leader appears to have some gaps in education, he is supposed to display common sense and orientation learned from the parents. Our political, economic and military leaders evidently lack both academic education and proper upbringing. I am sure, many will agree that education, whether academic or parental, refines a man morally and intelligently.

It is expected that if a man at least finished school, he knows how to deal with other people. This is the reason it is always said “a graduate qualifies for his attainment(s) in character and learning”. It implies that even when character is not molded at home, it should, in the long run, be molded at school. Most of our leaders are men and women, who have acquired several degrees and accomplished inordinate goals. Academic degrees for them is a must to obtain, and many go a great length and make desperate efforts to be awarded Master’s and doctorate degrees and be called “honourable” and “honorary”. It seems that they learn only unholy and despicable methods for chiefly “mastering” and “doctoring” evil against the people in their desperate lust for power.

What should one expect in a country, where the leaders love showing off their wealth as if it is what really matters in life? We live in a country where a professional is recognized only by the papers, and no one cares whether they are genuine or not. Nobody cares whether one is capable to defend their qualifications through productivity and excellence. Unfortunately, who we have are ignorant men and women. I am so angry that for the past 16 years Nigerians have allowed some strange men into our political space, making us fill ashamed for those who we have accepted as our leaders.   

It is unfortunate that our political, economic and military leaders think Nigerians are utterly and irredeemably vulnerable to abuse and abandonment, and therefore see us as a stupid and an “anything goes” people. They appear to believe that they can do anything they wish and get away with it. They act as if the Nigerian laws are meant only for the common people to respect and obey, and see personal and corporate responsibilities as what others should do for them. I welcome Nigerians to this era of “the fortunes of the unfortunate Nigerians and the misfortune of the fortunate Nigerians”.

Senator Godswill Akpabio’s road accident

While I share my sympathy and commiserate with the relatives, friends and well-wishers of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio over his recent road accident in Abuja, I cannot close my eyes to what may have caused the accident. It, actually, offers Nigerians a new opportunity to test the President Buhari’s sincerity and commitment to the change mantra and the fight with corruption. I thank God for using Senator Akpabio to create this opportunity. For the purpose of enlightenment, every offence committed against the Nigerian laws is corruption to the extent of the infringement of the laws. It is, therefore, onus of the investigating agencies to let Nigerians know whether or not Senator Akpabio was so irresponsible that allowed his driver to get into an accident in broad daylight.

According to the eyewitnesses’ report, the accident happened because Senator Akpabio’s driver tried to violate the traffic regulations, powered by an electronic device ensuring directional signals at the road junctions. The road junction, where the accident took place, is the one Senator Akpabio has used routinely for no less than eight years – thus, he should have known it like the back of his hand. Whatever Senator Akpabio does should serve as a good example to other Nigerians. This is why the accident must be publicly investigated – it will be a tribute of decency ensuring the contentment of Nigerians.

As Senator Akpabio is recuperating in a London hospital, he should know that we know he is entitled to N100 million medical allowance per annum as the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, so the costs of his hospitalization in London will be borne by the Akwa Ibom people. It must be clear that the accident occurred due to the carelessness and irresponsibility of the driver; it will, therefore, be a robbery of a people for Akpabio to spend billions of naira to build a hospital in the state and yet return with the receipts from hospitals abroad for the Akwa Ibom people to pay for the trauma he carelessly incurred. Where should the Akwa Ibom people pay for their own trauma of the continued rip-off?

The entire legal and political system in Nigeria is designed to protect those who are the major betrayers of the people. Corporate national evil is far greater in magnitude than the sum of the sins committed by the individuals inhabiting Nigeria. The corporate sins, which are more damaging and destructive, are often left unnoticed, while the individual sins, especially those committed by the downtrodden, are always followed by punishment. This reminds me of the lyrics of a song, dissecting the difference between pen robbery and armed robbery. An armed robber may steal little money and yet go to jail, while a pen robber may steal a bullion and yet be allowed to throw a party to celebrate his crime. This is the corporate and systemic evil.

Update on Senator Stella Oduah’s $800,000 BMW armored cars  

Recently Senator Stella Oduah has won a case against the EFCC, which wanted to prosecute her for being involved in the purchase of two armored cars when she was the minister of aviation during the Jonathan’s administration. I wonder why Senator Oduah has chosen to seek the legal protection just to avoid being fairly punished for her official impudence. Although I agree that it is within her rights to seek legal protection or redress, when her rights are infringed upon, but the reason she applied for protection is unacceptable. Why should an unjust violator of the rights of others be protected from the sword of justice? A leader is expected to show wisdom in the process of decision-making. Why would Senator Oduah push for us to see prudence in her decision to spend the public money without considering the laid down guidelines and rules? Why would she seek the Nigerians’ approval of her purchase of two armoured cars for $800,000 for some officials from the International Aviation Authority coming to inspect 25 Nigerian airports? Nigerians wonder not whether Oduah bought the vehicles at all, but why she decided to spend so much money on her own, without receiving approval of the Federal Executive Council.

I am, therefore, convinced that even if Nigerians overlook the amount Senator Oduah approved for the purchase of the cars, they cannot overlook her undermining the powers and privileges of the Federal Executive Council. This is an act aimed at weakening a federal institution, the highest decision-making organ of the executive arm of the government. Crime punishment should no longer be limited to individual crimes like armed robbery or corporate crimes like official stealing. We must also punish those, who abuse our agencies causing systemic collapse of the overall government bureaucracy.

A fish rots from the head down

Today we are clamouring for the strengthening of the government institutions and investigating of those, who make them vulnerable. Senator Uduah’s idea of dodging the question and pursuing irrelevant issues in the face of such serious crime will not be condoned. Assuming political power in order to abuse the common people will no longer be tolerated. It should be clear to our leaders that a new leadership strata is evolving among the young Nigerians: while they hold the power, we are working to build capacity and trust amongst Nigerians with the sole aim of instigating a revolution against the present crops of politicians. One day we all will rise like it happened in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen and Syria. We will rise as one people and chase all those “crazy baldheads out of town”.

It will be a no-go to simply “save” individuals and expect that the community gets straightened-out. The systems and structures of evil should first be dealt with, and then the lives of individuals could be effectively transformed. Individuals are corrupt because systems and structures are corrupt. It is suggested that the systems that order the life of a nation fall into three categories: economic, political and religious. All other institutions (educational, health, cultural, social) are their subsystems. That was why in the days of old, religious institutions and governments competed with each other to see the people are awarded free education, free health care and recreational facilities.

Discipline strengthens a nation, but license erodes and weakens it. We must resist the temptation of wealth, power and prestige, enveloping us in self-pride and pushing men to use the lives of others to preserve status quo. Laws are really not rules to be obeyed, but conditions of relationship engraved in the people’s hearts. The Almighty God has given us laws to create a just and egalitarian society. All dreamers of a perfect society failed, because humans are not perfect. Laws and stipulations are not about perfection, but about justice. It is impossible to have a perfect society of imperfect humans, but it is possible to have a just society of imperfect humans. When people see that all the good in life is given by God, they are ready to share it with others. If we accept that all men are equal before God, we will have a duty to individually and collectively ensure the elimination of poverty, the economic and political oppression and the protection of the weak.   

Ini A. Morgan for Naij.com

Ini A. Morgan is a Port Harcourt-based architect, writer and public affairs analyst. He is married with children.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com. 

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