Weak Government Structure Fueling Corruption in Africa

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has said that weak government structure and lack of accountability is fueling corruption in Africa.

Mohammed said this at the annual conference of the Pan Africa Lawyers Union with the theme, “Combating corruption: The role of the legal profession in Africa.”

The CJN who was represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clentus Nweze said “Great attention should be placed on the African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption which was adopted on July 11, 2003. The Convention, as it is well known, represents regional census on what African countries should do in the area of prevention, criminalisation, international collaboration and asset recovery.

“Corruption is characterised by the absence of culture of accountability, inefficiency, weak government structure, excessive concentration of power in the executive arm of government and lack of transparency.”

PALU President, Mr. Elijah Banda also added that “Our question will not only be what can our government do or what can AU do in the fight against corruption, and the illicit financial flow from Africa, but also our question will be what will the legal profession in Africa do to contribute to the fight in meaningful and tangible ways.”