The Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Umar Barde (PDP) has called for the execution of looters of National treasury especially those who stole funds meant for the arms procurement. In veiled reference to embattled former National Security Adviser under ex-President Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Hon. Barde said that the issue of sympathy for someone who knows that the money was meant for arms’ and pockets it is a no go area.
Hon. Barde stated that he will not hesitate to make sure such people are executed if he was the Judge himself.
Hear Barde; “If I am a judge and such a person is brought before me, I will confiscate his property and make sure he is killed also. Because, he bears fault in the blood of the people killed in the war front.”
The PDP lawmaker advocated other penalties like amputation for treasury looters in the millions category and execution for those in the billions range.
If someone steals from N1 million to N100 million, they should cut his hand. Yes, there is nothing wrong with that, so that when we see him, we will know yes, he stole. And those that steal from billions upward should be hanged and their property confiscated,” the minority whip said at an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel in Kaduna.
Mr. Barde who has been representing Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency since 2003 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it is unacceptable for people to steal public fund and use that public fund to get justice from court.
The minority whip believed that people should be punished for whatever offence they commit, adding “I am also of the belief that punishment should also be segregated according to the offence. At least, your punishment should be commensurate with what you have done.”
“We are living in a very funny country where people steal N1,000 and they are put in jail for years. And where some people will steal billions and use that same billion to escape justice. That is not good enough,” he said.
He disclosed that himself and other members of the national assembly are considering a bill that makes the executive create special courts for corruption cases.
“Me and some members in the National Assembly are of the believe that, we should have special courts for corruption cases.
“Because, if you look at the quantum of corruption in the country today, we are just talking about Dasukigate and look at quantum of money and the number of people that are involved. You have not gone to the ministries yet. You have not even gone to the states and it is only ICPC and EFCC that are to do all these jobs. If we are fair to ourselves, the work is overwhelming. And you know, people will want to use the legal system to delay Justice, and that is what is happening today. So, why don’t we have dedicated courts to handle all these corruption cases, so that justice could be dispense quickly?
“I’m aware of former Governors who have cases with EFCC and they have not gone to court for the past eight years. So, this does not encourage the young people. It rather encourages them to steal, because if you can delay justice for 10 years, it means that is a good one.
“So, I think we need to put our heads together because corruption like hunger does not know party, it does not know tribe of religion. We must as Nigerians take a very bold stand,” he remarked.
Via The Whistle
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