THE ENDEMIC NATURE OF CORRUPTION IN THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY

There is no better way to understand the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria than to look at the activities of our customs officials. Imagine a situation where a custom officer passes fake and expired drugs for bribe not considering that the same drugs might be used to treat him or his children in the near future.


Among the numerous problems facing Nigeria in 21st century is the bad image which is rightly or wrongly portrayed by the Corruption Perception Indices orchestrated under the frame work of Berlin-Based Transparency International.28 In 1991 TI29 released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranking 99 countries in order of their perceived level of corruption with number one being the least corrupt. Nigeria at recent version released in London, Nigeria at number 132 was still only one rank above.30 Corruption is a vice that has permeated every aspect of our National life.

But there is a tendency, even amongst the elite to regard corruption only in terms of financial gratification.31 If we give that restrictive meaning  to corruption, then we run the hazard of being myopic to so many other objectionable behaviors in our public and private lives that still fall within the category of the worst form of corruption. It is in the light of the above that we must give a very elastic definition of corruption.
 
Corruption has been defined as depravity per version or taint, an impairment of integrity virtue or moral principle; especially the impairment of a public officers duties by bribery.32 The word corruption indicates impurity or debasement and when found in the criminal law it means depravity or gross impropriety.33 

Corruption is not a disease which afflicts public officers alone but also society as a whole. In fact, there is no judgment in the history of the Supreme Court where a full panel of the highest court of the land, poured out their winds on the issue of corruption than in the case of Attorney-General Ondo State v. Attorney-General Federation.34
Share on Google Plus

Declaimer - MARTINS LIBRARY

The publications and/or documents on this website are provided for general information purposes only. Your use of any of these sample documents is subjected to your own decision NB: Join our Social Media Network on Google Plus | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

READ RECENT UPDATES HERE