In response to the court injunction obtained by the Akwa Ibom State government, which bars anti-graft agencies from investigating its activities, a civil society group has called upon the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to swiftly take steps to vacate the injunction.
The group, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), has also urged other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to collaborate with the NBA in lifting the injunction, thereby enabling relevant agencies to probe suspected corrupt practices within the state government.
This appeal was articulated in a communique signed by Zubair Abdurrauf Idris, the Executive Director of WAMAC, following a town hall meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Themed “Tackling corruption in the implementation of constituency projects; fostering workable synergy between media and CSOs in the fight against corruption,” the meeting aimed to address corruption challenges within constituency projects.
Additionally, the communique urged all stakeholders to advocate for the swift implementation of the whistleblower protection policy, which would incentivize individuals to provide credible information on suspected cases of corruption.
Furthermore, it called upon the populace, religious leaders, and community figures to actively engage in anti-corruption advocacy and report instances of corruption through both traditional and social media platforms. The communique emphasized the importance of transparency and integrity among traditional and community leaders, cautioning against succumbing to the influence of politically exposed individuals.
Regarding abandoned constituency projects by national legislators in Akwa Ibom State, the meeting advocated for the completion of identified projects.
Moreover, it encouraged journalists, the public, and CSOs to leverage the Freedom of Information Act to obtain critical information vital for combating corruption.
In summary, the town hall meeting underscored the significance of collaboration between CSOs, the media, and anti-corruption agencies in combating corruption. Recognizing the complementary strengths of CSOs and the media, the meeting stressed the need for a concerted effort to remove obstacles inhibiting anti-corruption investigations, such as the aforementioned injunction restricting scrutiny of Akwa Ibom government activities.
