By Innocent Anaba

lagos—Former Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Chairman and retired Supreme Court justice, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, yesterday, said the “fight against corruption needs a more holistic and deeply thought-out strategic approach” than is the case presently.

He added that “corruption thrives in any nation where there is an abiding culture of lawlessness such, for example, where there is little or no enforcement or implementation of legislation.”

Speaking at the yearly lecture of PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors with the theme “Anti Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra Territorial Application and Lessons For Business and Government Agencies,” which he chaired, he said “There cannot be any doubt that Nigeria shares the concern expressed by the international community in the United Nations Convention against Corruption, about “the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law.

“It cannot be denied, however, that Nigeria’s perception of the fight against corruption is strong in sentiment and emotion but abysmally weak in action and commitment. As long as we, at all levels of society, pay lip-service to the fight against corruption, it will take longer to rout it in our nation.

“The fight against corruption needs a more holistic and deeply thought-out strategic approach than hitherto. It is misconceived that the only method of bringing corruption to its knees is through the criminal justice option. I believe, from a lawyer’s perspective, that Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform the totality of the legal frame work in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate result oriented fight against corruption and engender inclusive and popular fight.