A former senior adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecutions, Obono Obla, has proposed the death penalty as a possible solution to Nigeria’s deep-rooted corruption problem.
Speaking at the 16th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture in Calabar, organized by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Obla argued that harsher measures could help curb financial crimes.
The lecture, themed “Sink or Swim? Nigeria’s Future and the Impact of Corruption on the Socio-Political Economy,” explored how corruption continues to undermine the nation’s development.
Obla, who also chaired the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), stressed that only severe consequences would deter public officials and individuals from engaging in corrupt practices.
“One potential strategy to consider is the introduction of the death penalty for specific categories of corruption and financial crimes,” Obla stated.
He believes such a drastic measure could serve as a strong deterrent, reducing corruption’s grip on governance and the economy.
