For the first time, Ontario MD indicted in the 6bn fuel subsidy scam was finally convicted and sent to 10 years imprisonment. Save the efforts of her lawyer, the jail term was meant to be 69 years! Upon reading through the judgment, I was compelled to ask myself if such laws still exist in this country. Sincerely speaking, the judge must be quite courageous to push in such a judgment for one reason. It is not easy to jail a wealthy person in Nigeria!
There are scams in Nigeria that you need to pull over to hear them to avoid a car crash - N195bn Maina pension scam, N123bn Oronsanye Fraud, N32.8bn police pension fund fraud, $20bn oil fund diversion, N446bn Mohammed Abacha Fund, $2.1bn arms acquisition scam, 2.6bn Akpolokemi NIMASA fund and this N6bn fuel subsidy fraud that has finally triggered one conviction. None of these has led to any conviction until this judgment!
Looking at systemic corruption in Nigeria, it is very tempting to conclude that the more you steal, the more difficult it is to prosecute, let alone convict. Looking at these amounts, you are compelled to ask If President Muhammadu Buhari really needs $30bn, If there is really a recession or an age-long systemic diversion of funds and If scarcity of trusted leaders is not a more serious problem than corruption in Nigeria.
What makes me laugh most is that with all these crimes committed, Kai! Nigerians hate prison with a passion!!! Same people that healthily "champagned" and danced away yahooze after successful mega frauds step into the box to tell you they now have cancer, HIV, Ebola virus, heart attack and many terminal illnesses.
We are in a system where parents, teachers and leaders who should be custodians of good values celebrate shortcuts and materialism over hardwork. In that case, the younger generation must note that even though laws look like its meant to be broken, its obedience is grossly essential but its breach no matter the kind of terminal disease and confession done, can only reduce 69 years imprisonment to 10 years. Anyone looking for heavy inflows should find new markets, internationalise their businesses and stay away from public sector embezzlements. . The Escape of Yesterday's crime is the predator of Today's peace. Secrets are burdensome. Mismanaged public funds can lead to public prison. The victory of evil over good remains temporary.
No comments:
Post a Comment