Sanusi Says Political Connections Can Help People Escape Justice in Nigeria

(Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. Photo Credit: The SUn Nigeria)
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says people in Nigeria can escape accountability for wrongdoing if they have the right political links.

He said this in an interview in Lagos at the public presentation of Unexplained Wealth:

A Trilogy of Nigerian Financial Law, a three-volume book by anti-corruption lawyer Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN).

Sanusi said reviewing the laws on unexplained wealth is important but the laws must also be properly enforced, along with the institutions in charge of enforcing them.

He said Nigeria already has institutions and courts with power to investigate and prosecute corruption, but politics can sometimes shape how cases are handled.

He said some people facing corruption charges simply get them dropped because they belong to the right political camp or have the right backing.

This, he said, makes people wonder whether a case is a real fight against corruption or just a political battle.

Sanusi pointed to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he called his brother.

He said El-Rufai has been denied bail and held for seven months without a conviction.

Note that the report also says the claims were not backed by proof that the former governor was unlawfully detained or that the case was politically motivated.

The Emir said politicians, public officials and the judiciary must make sure laws are used for the purpose they were made for, or the country will not make progress.

He praised Shittu's work for spotting gaps in the laws and suggesting ways to strengthen the fight against corruption, adding that he is still an undergraduate law student and would find the books useful in his studies.

He ended by saying that without strong enforcement by institutions, anyone can get away with anything if they have the right political connections.