*Says anti-graft war highly politicized
By Sanni Abdullahi
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, HRM, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has decried the state of accountability in the country, saying that with the right political connections, anyone can get away with anything in Nigeria.
Sanusi made the observation while speaking on the challenges of fighting corruption and building strong institutions in Nigeria.
According to him, the country has institutions that are statutorily empowered to identify corrupt individuals and prosecute them, and courts that are supposed to dispense justice, but their effectiveness has been undermined by political interference.
“You have institutions that are supposed to identify corrupt people and prosecute them. You have courts that are supposed to do it. We have seen in this country people who are facing corruption charges who basically just get those charges dropped because they belong to the right political environment or have the right political support,” Sanusi said.
He lamented that the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria has been heavily politicized, making it difficult for citizens to differentiate between genuine efforts to tackle graft and politically motivated persecution.
“We have people who have legal processes where people are questioning if in fact, it is a fight against corruption or political persecution,” he added.
Sanusi, who is known for his outspoken views on governance and economic reforms, noted that the failure to enforce the law uniformly irrespective of political affiliation is at the heart of Nigeria’s underdevelopment and lack of investor confidence.
He argued that until Nigeria builds strong, independent institutions that can act without fear or favour, the cycle of impunity will continue, with public office holders looting the treasury and walking away freely once they align with the ruling party or powerful political figures.
The former CBN governor has consistently called for judicial reform, institutional independence and a value system that rewards integrity and punishes corruption.
His latest comments come at a time when Nigerians are increasingly questioning the outcomes of high-profile corruption cases, many of which have been stalled, dismissed or settled through plea bargains that many consider too lenient.
Sanusi’s statement, according to critics, reflects the general sentiment among Nigerians who believe that justice is not equal and that the law often protects the powerful while punishing the poor.
Observers believe that his intervention should serve as a wake-up call to the Federal Government, the judiciary and anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to restore public confidence by ensuring that no one is above the law, regardless of political connections.
