We Want Capital Punishment For Corrupt Leaders

“The law classifies crimes according to the severity of their consequences both on the individual victim, the community or the country. If crime holds a high potential to gravely harm or kill its victim, the more severe the punishment, which was designed to punish and deter offenders.

“This is to say that punishment must always fit offences. One crime that has proved capable of gravely harming or killing its victim, Nigeria, is corruption".

Ahead of Thursday’s zonal constitutional conferences, foremost northern political group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, has recommended capital punishment for corruption.

At present, China is the only notable country where corruption attracts capital punishment.

In its proposal submitted to the National Assembly, the ACF rued the destructive impact of corruption on the country and said that anybody found guilty of corruption should be killed.

The forum said, “Sadly, our laws have not recognised corruption for what it is. ACF recommends that corruption be recognised as a capital offence and made to carry capital punishment.”

Corruption is regarded as common-place among the country’s political class and men of power and efforts to stem it have been handled with kid gloves notwithstanding the establishment of anti-corruption agencies.

Only few notable Nigerians have been tried and sentenced for corruption with few years in prison or option of fine. But a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, is currently serving jail term in London for economic crimes.