A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay, affirmed the effect of the bribery on Nigeria would be quite minimal compared to how it would affect Britain and its government..
“Nigeria has no reputation to lose in this case. The country is already known worldwide for corruption. Nigeria is close to the top on the list of corrupt countries. It is the UK that has something to lose. It is a stain on their reputation that one of their police officers could take bribe from a suspect who comes from a developing nation,” he said.
In a more related opinion, Emeka Ngige, (SAN) said the bribery case indicated that is not just limited to Nigeria, but a global phenomenon.
“It is not a Nigerian problem. It is the UK’s problem. This goes to show that corruption is a global phenomenon. There is no country that does not have corrupt people. It only depends on how the government of each country handles it. In the Nigerian police, corruption is the norm; it is the culture.
“And I’m sure if Nigerians hear it in the news that a Nigerian Police officer collected bribe to reveal information to a suspect, it would not be news to them. But in the UK, they would shudder, and you will see how their government would handle this,” he conclude.
Another Senior Advocate, Mike Igbokwe asserted that the bribery case clearly indicated that Nigerian politicians were capable of manipulating their ways under any circumstance with the task payers’ money.
“I’m not in support of corrupt practices in anyway and what Ibori and his agents did was very wrong and illegal. But I believe this has shown that corruption is everywhere. Nowadays, the British Metropolitan Police can no longer be said to be ‘saints’.
“The noise that the British police and their government make about African countries being corrupt no longer has any basis. British police have to redeem their image.
“This is also an indication that this is what Nigerian politicians do with public funds; bribing their way in and outside the country,” he said.
And on a contrary opinion, human rights activist, Femi Falana, said the new developments regarding the Ibori’s saga will continue to put Nigeria into shame.
Falana said, “He was allowed to become a governor- the judiciary in Nigeria has been exposed to unprecedented ridicule. It is a shame that a man that was convicted in 1991, 1992 and 1995, for fraud and related offenses, became a governor in defiance of the Constitution. As the Ibori story is not concluded, the leading ambassador of a kleptomaniac
ruling elite is going to continue to shame the country,”
I don't want to talk much about this,every man has a right to his opinion but...I will still say this.
James Ibori is a jail-bird and has made a mess of our already messed-up political and judicial system but I personally do not agree with Sagay about Nigeria not having any image to protect. As a SAN,he should not say that,Its a senseless talk. UK definitely has a lot to lose but it doesn't mean Nigeria stands to lose nothing like Sagay said.
I respect Femi Falana for his sensible analysis of what happened,he has proven himself to be an intelligent law advocate,Kudos to him!!!
I'm praying and waiting for that day when we Nigerians will think right,see things right and speak wisely so we can dominate the country and exercise the power we have to enjoy Nigeria as Citizens.
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