By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr Sam Saba, yesterday, warned all his board members and directors across the federation, to shun kickbacks from corrupt politicians, saying death would be better for anyone of them caught in the act.

Saba, who stated this at a one-day retreat organised for top officials of the CCB drawn from the 36 states of the federation, in Abuja, yesterday, decried what he termed an uncanny penchant by public office holders to short-change the government in their assets declaration form, noting that “the war against corruption in public service is far from being over.

“It is obvious that we shall continually face challenges in our operations given the nature of our mandate. However, how we view these challenges defines us.”

Do we choose to see the challenges as stepping-stones or as obstacles?

“I believe that the right choice for us in the Bureau is to choose to see challenges as opportunities along the way for us to use, so we can achieve more, develop further and ultimately actualise more of our goals.

“We therefore need to introduce new thinking and approach where feasible and we need to stop what isn’t working. In essence, the retreat is an avenue for soul searching, for us to talk to ourselves and to take a fresh look at our mandate and mode of operation.

We need to create a vision whereby our name becomes synonymous with excellence, innovation, honour, integrity, transparency, accountability and outstanding quality of service delivery. This simply means that we need to promise less and deliver more every time.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Gunmi, yesterday, inaugurated the 8th Executive Committee of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja branch.
The CJ, who performed the ceremony in his chambers yesterday, tasked the new FIDA Exco’s to ensure strict respect for the rule of law in their official conducts, stressing that they should shun acts capable of attracting scorn for the entire judiciary.

Those who took oath of office yesterday were, Mrs Iyabode Ognuseye as the new FIDA chairperson, Mrs Ozioma Izuora, Doris Ikpeze, Kate Okoli, Ngozi Ikenga, Ijeoma Alisi, Patience Okoh and Alheri Blessing.