The former president says the legislature is the most corrupt body in the country
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the National Assembly and state houses of assembly as institutions filled with “rogues and armed robbers.”
The former president made the remark at the Fourth annual conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies held in Lagos.
Obasanjo listed the three most corrupt institutions as the legislature, judiciary and the police, stressing that the lawmakers were most corrupt amongst all.
“Integrity is necessary for all systems and institutions to be strong. Today, rogues, armed robbers are in the state houses of assembly and the national assembly. What sort of laws will they make?” he asked.
It will be recalled that the former president had, earlier in 2010, accused the lawmakers of corruption, an accusation that sparked the anger of the legislators.
Obasanjo was also accused of leading an anti-corruption fight which he used as an instrument in targeting opposition during his eight-year term, although he has denied the allegation.
The former president also said there was huge scale of corruption in the judiciary, An assertion that was supported by former Chief Justice, Uwais.
“The judiciary is also corrupt,” Obasanjo said, “During my tenure, many of the corrupt judges were removed, some are still there.”
“If the judiciary becomes corrupt, where is the hope for Nigeria? Justice no doubt will go to the highest bidder. The judiciary did not see anything wrong with a former governor but the same set of evidence was used to convict him in the UK.”
Speaking at the event, former Chief Justice Mohammed Uwais noted that corruption had long been in the nation’s judiciary.
“Without a strong judiciary, even if you have a strong economy, the economy will find it difficult to grow,” he said.
