By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s proposal urging President Bola Tinubu to grant amnesty to former public officials accused of looting public funds in exchange for returning the alleged proceeds, describing the suggestion as a dangerous path to institutionalising impunity.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group said Nigeria should strengthen, rather than weaken, its anti-corruption framework by ensuring that individuals found guilty of corruption face the full weight of the law.
HURIWA argued that corruption should not be treated as a negotiable offence, insisting that the return of stolen public funds should only amount to restitution and not immunity from criminal prosecution.
The association urged President Tinubu to reject any proposal for a two-year amnesty window for alleged treasury looters and instead adopt a zero-tolerance approach to corruption anchored on the Nigerian Constitution, due process and the rule of law.
According to HURIWA, Nigeria can draw lessons from countries with stringent anti-corruption measures, citing the recent conviction and death sentence handed to former Nanjing official Yang Youlin by a Chinese court over bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power and money laundering involving more than 2.2 billion yuan.
It, however, clarified that it was not advocating the wholesale adoption of another country’s justice system but rather the principle that corruption should attract severe consequences capable of deterring public officials from misappropriating public resources.
“The return of stolen assets should be treated as restitution and asset recovery not an automatic passport to immunity,” the statement said.
The group maintained that Nigeria’s anti-corruption system has failed to sufficiently discourage public officials from engaging in financial crimes, noting that high-profile corruption cases often linger in courts for years while suspects remain free.
To address the challenge, HURIWA called for the immediate rejection of blanket amnesty for treasury looters, the establishment of specialised and speedy courts for corruption cases, comprehensive forfeiture of illegally acquired assets after conviction, tougher penalties for offenders, stronger financial intelligence systems, mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership of companies and properties, and greater independence for anti-corruption agencies.
The association also advocated the fast-tracking of high-value corruption cases and the public disclosure of recovered assets and funds in accordance with the law.
HURIWA further argued that corruption extends beyond financial misconduct, saying the diversion of funds meant for healthcare, education, security, roads and other essential services has worsened poverty, weakened institutions and undermined national development.
The group warned that granting amnesty to alleged looters could encourage public officials to steal state resources with the expectation of negotiating their way out of prosecution in the future.
While acknowledging that Senator Kalu’s proposal may have been aimed at recovering hidden public funds, HURIWA insisted that such an approach would weaken deterrence and erode public confidence in the fight against corruption.
It therefore urged President Tinubu to prioritise accountability by strengthening asset recovery, financial intelligence, institutional reforms and speedy prosecution of corruption cases.
According to the organisation, public officials found guilty of corruption through due process should face appropriate legal sanctions, stressing that there should be “no blanket pardon, no negotiated impunity and no privileged escape route for treasury looters.”
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