Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

Members of the Barnawa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kaduna State chapter, have called on the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle corruption before it consumed the country.

The association also flayed the government’s failure to invest the recovered looted funds to boost the economy for the betterment of Nigerians.

The lawyers’ positions were expressed in a communiqué issued after  their two-day law week held in Kaduna, the state capital.

The law week had the theme, ‘Curbing corruption and insecurity in Nigeria: Socio-economic, legal and political perspectives.’

The communiqué, signed by the Chairman, Napoleon Idenala, and the Secretary, Mr. Kayode Faturiyele, also expressed the resolve of the association to collaborate with the government at all levels to tackle corruption and insecurity.

It read, “Incessant applications for adjournment, unnecessary reliance on technicalities, the burden of proof, standard of proof and presumption of innocence as contained in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should be looked into with respect to cases of corruption and insecurity, as they pose serious impediments to justice delivery in Nigeria.

“The NBA Barnawa branch observes with utmost dismay that despite various recovery through whistle-blowing, Nigerians have yet to see the impact of the funds recovered in the economy as many citizens are wallowing in hunger, poverty, diseases and insecurity.”

On insecurity, it frowned on the incessant killings by herdsmen and the kidnapping of Nigerians and called on the Federal Government to curb them.

“The NBA Barnawa Branch frowns on the incessant killings and kidnappings of innocent citizens in various parts of Nigeria under any guise or excuse and therefore calls on the Federal Government to be more proactive in tackling these vices as the unity, peace and tolerance of this country are non-negotiable and all component parts of the country are equally important,” it said.