Fighting corruption difficult in democracy, Buhari says

President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday revealed plans to overhaul the nation’s judiciary as he noted that fighting corruption in a democracy is a difficult task unlike it is under a military dictatorship.

Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting President Hage Geingob of Namibia at the presidential villa, Abuja, said some judges will be re-designated to handle corruption cases.

He said: “So we are willing but it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system. We are getting the cooperation of countries.

“We are trying to sell the assets wherever we found them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury. This is all I can say at this stage because we are reorganizing the judiciary.

“We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have question s to answer.

“So, that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up; we are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible.”

In his remark, President Geingob thanked Nigerian government for his support and assistance to Namibia via the deployment of Nigerian volunteers under the Technical Aid Corps.

He said that he was in Nigeria to pay his last respect to late Prof Adebayo Adedeji, one time Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa whom he described as his mentor.

Geingob congratulated President Buhari for his efforts in dealing with corruption in Nigeria and beyond but expressed regrets that corruption in Africa was becoming serious case and requiring strong hands like the Nigerian leader.

The Namibian President said: “He (Buhari) is taking steps that will encourage all of us. I declared war against poverty and corruption. I declared my assets publicly. I therefore emulate my brother here.”