President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption headed by prominent constitutional lawyer and civil rights advocate, Professor Itse Sagay.
The Committee’s brief, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, is to advise the present administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Other members of the Committee, which is also expected to develop comprehensive interventions for achieving recommended reforms, are:
Prof. Femi Odekunle (Professor of Criminology, Ahmadu Bello University), Dr. (Mrs) Benedicta Daudu (Associate Professor of International Law, University of Jos), Prof. E. Alemika (Professor of Sociology, University of Jos), Professor Sadiq Radda (Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano), Hadiza Bala Usman (Civil Society Activist) and Professor Bolaji Owasanoye (Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies), who is to also serve as Executive Secretary of the Committee
The statement added that in support of the Federal Government’s efforts, an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund has been established by three international development partners.
It listed the partners as the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation.
“The $5 million fund is to assist implementation of key components of the Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
“The fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international development Civil Society Organisation with programme presence in more than 25 African countries”, Adesina said.
