Falana noted that some people going in and out of the Aso Rock Villa as visitors are standing trial for corruption.
Speaking as a guest at the 60th anniversary of the call to bar of Aare Afe Babalola in Ekiti State on Monday, the human rights lawyer lamented that the level of corruption in the country “has assumed a very dangerous dimension.”
The legal practitioner said, “I’m urging the president to lead an anti-corruption crusade so that the country – the largest concentration of black people on earth, can take its rightful place in the committee of nations.
“Highly-placed public officers steal money meant for building hospitals, and people are dying on our roads.
“Some of those who are going in and out of the villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country. So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community.”
Speaking further on why corrupt public office holders should be barred from holding positions in government, he referenced the administration of Nigeria’s former president and Chairman of the anniversary lecture, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), noting that the administration fought against corruption.
Falana said, “There’s somebody here who was our president. If you were accused of corruption and your case was before the EFCC or the ICPC, you’ll not be appointed to a position of authority. We must go back to that era.”
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