From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, has tasked the UK government with compensating victims of corruption in return for recovered assets.
This was contained in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna today.
The statement stated that Rev. Ugolor made the remarks at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development ( FfD 4) held in Seville, Spain.
Rev.Ugolor, who acknowledged that the UK government has been progressive in this direction and is currently in the process of returning some recovered assets from the UK to Nigeria, said lessons from previous returns from the UK showed that the direct victims did not benefit from the returned loot.
He therefore advised that the planned return be to the victims of the corrupt sub-national government.
Rev Ugolor was speaking at the side event convened by Transparency International with support from ANEEJ and 14 other organisations here in Sevilla.
Responding, the Director for International Finance, FCDO, Phil Stevens underscores the need to stem the devastating consequences of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Africa and elsewhere.
“From available data, Africa is losing 90bn USD annually to IFFs, and we need to plug the holes.
“There is a need for action among the governments, CSOs, and media, and information is key,” he noted. Phil Stevens then informed the gathering that the UK government will next year, 2026, convene a summit on Illicit Financial Flows.
Responding to Ugolor’s questions, Phil Stevens said sub-national governments needed to be on the negotiation table, but such a negotiation was usually between two sovereign governments in line with Mutual Legal Assistance laws governing asset recovery.
He assured that all stakeholders, including Civil Society Organisations, would be invited to the asset recovery summit next year.
The anti-corruption session chaired by Mr Jonathan Bourguignon, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, saw speakers and panelists address key issues around the FfD4 outcome document on corruption and Illicit Financial Flows.
Asst Director of NORAD in her intervention, said the government of Norway has been focused on FfD for years and has been working with other governments to deliver on SDGs. “Even though not actively involved in negotiations has partnered with several organisations involved.
She noted that coverage of anti-corruption in the Addis document left leakages in the outcome document. She listed the many impacts of corruption in the global world and called for transparency in the implementation of national development strategies.
She welcomed the inclusion of anti-corruption as a cross-cutting issue, which will help boost private investment growth.
She welcomed the commitment to improving tax integrity. “Noway will continue to contribute to the UN anti-corruption process support. Intergovernmental agencies, CSOs, and media organisations.
Vice Chair of Transparency International, in her presentation, noted that there was a need to find ways to protect investments in SDGs from the crushing effects of corruption. According to her, “development financing will not accomplish its mission if corruption is not dealt with.
“From Monterrey to Adiss Ababa and Sevilla, the issue of corruption has always been put on the agenda. There is a need to move from commitment to action.
“It is important to combat the devastating effects of corruption. CSOs need to be empowered to play their role. If Civil Society is impeded in playing its watchdog role, the situation will be dire for the corruption-impacted citizens.
“We need to stand together to build a financial system based on transparency, not secrecy.” She stated that billions of dollars are lost by African nations annually to IFFs.
“The debt crisis has also been exacerbated by corruption, and we need to stand together to combat corruption. We need to shine the light on what is wrong,” She concluded.
During the Panel discussions that followed, a representative of the Government of Bangladesh, Masudur Rahaman, said the Government of Bangladesh is committed to fighting corruption as it has zero tolerance for corruption.
“When we came into office 11 months ago, we needed to combat corruption, set up anti-corruption agencies to fight corruption, and recover looted assets.
He noted that it is so difficult to recover stolen assets and called for deeper international collaboration and support to fast-track the process of asset recovery.
“He also wants the international community to address secrecy amongst financial institutions as the nation is trying to make transparency in public finance management and set up the BO registry.
The representative of the South African government, Mr. E. D. Kieswetter of SDRS, who is an activist for Domestic Resource Mobilisation, said Sevilla has thrown up a lot of cause for action, which are: What money is for-The government always fails in making their spending priorities. Secondly, the quality of what you spend money on. Most African governments’ approach to DRM is weak, and we need to improve it. Next, he puts on the table the role of artificial intelligence.
” We need to get AI for tax drives, financial flows, and to deal with syndicated crimes.. He chided “men in suits” who are enablers of corruption in government, banks, and other professions. He concluded with the note that “Corruption thrives where good men remain silent.”
Another panelist expressed concern about the recent US announcement of “Making foreign aid great again.” She pointed out that the US has decided they are not going to support sustainable development anymore as they have been responsible for 40 per cent of Aid Worldwide and that the Trump administration is peeved that Sub-Saharan Africa has always voted against US interest at the UN and as such there was no wisdom in aiding people who dont mean well for America.
She pointed out that this leaves a huge gap in finding the finance to address the many development challenges confronting the world today.
“It is good that governments agreed on corruption as a cross-cutting issue in the FfD4 outcome document. This will help in pushing the work of anti-corruption beyond current levels.” She remarked that the issue of lobbying and conflict of interest is part of corruption and should be treated as such.”
