The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has praised the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his bold stance against granting state pardons to individuals convicted of corruption. HURIWA described this as a crucial step toward addressing Nigeria’s deep-rooted issues of corruption, underdevelopment, and poverty.
In a statement reacting to Fagbemi’s comments during a roundtable organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), HURIWA commended the AGF for resisting political pressures and aligning with the public interest. The group urged Fagbemi to translate his words into action, ensuring that corrupt individuals return looted funds and serve appropriate jail sentences.
HURIWA also proposed creating specialized prisons for corrupt politicians and terrorists in the Sambisa Forest, emphasizing the need for strong deterrents to corruption. Additionally, the group advocated adopting China’s stringent anti-corruption model, including capital punishment for severe crimes, though warning against political misuse.
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The organization called on anti-corruption agencies to improve investigative processes, emphasizing that only well-built cases should be brought to court, not media trials.
