EFCC Poll Says Majority Of Nigerians Want Death Penalty For Treasury Looters

A poll conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown that more Nigerians were in support of death penalty for convicted treasury looters.

The poll, according to the anti-graft agency, was part of sensitisation of the public towards embracing drastic measures to combat corruption in the country.

The war against corruption has assumed a high tempo under President Muhammadu Buhari government, which was one of the campaign promises in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

While Nigerian judicial system only punishes corruption with jail terms upon conviction, in China, corruption offenses carried capital punishment.

Recently, a former Adamawa State governor, James Bala Ngillari, was jailed for corruption in a landmark trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC).

The commission reported that majority of Nigerians, who participated in the recent poll, approved capital punishment for looters of public funds.

The report of the online poll conducted through its Twitter handle was published in the March edition of its monthly magazine titled EFCC ALERT.

According to the publication, the poll opened on February 28, 2017 and by the time it closed, 4,584 participants had responded to the question: “What penalties do you think looters of public funds deserve?”

Participants were offered to chose from three options: long prison terms, final forfeiture of loot, and or death sentence.

Final result showed that 49 per cent voted for death sentence as a penalty, while 32 per cent for long prison terms, and 19 per cent for final forfeiture of loot stolen.

EFCC said that the poll was part of sensitisation towards the #CorruptionDialogue tweet meet organised in partnership with the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, which held March 1.

The commission noted that though the poll may not impact on the judicial system, “but what is not in doubt is that Nigerians hold strong belief that every measure should be considered in fight against corruption, including the death sentence.”