The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has spoken in Defence of comments credited to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that there is no corruption in Nigeria.
Bwala who also defended the economic reforms of the president, contended that the president’s comment was taken out of context based on what he was referring to.
He spoke during an interview with Journalist, Mehdi Hasan of Al Jazeera Media Network.
Hasan had questioned Bwala on Tinubu’s widely criticized remark suggesting that corruption had been eliminated in Nigeria. Citing Transparency International, Hasan noted that systemic corruption continues to affect sectors such as defense and security.
“President Tinubu said in August, There is no more corruption in Nigeria,’’ that’s a ridiculous thing to say, is it not?” Hasan asked.
Responding, Bwala defended the administration’s anti-corruption stance, saying the government investigates and prosecutes cases of corruption wherever they occur.
“We investigate any case of corruption, not just in the defense sector but anywhere in government,” Bwala said.
“This administration has had people in government either sacked, investigated, or prosecuted. The resolve of our administration in dealing with corruption is obvious.”
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When pressed on Tinubu’s statement, Bwala argued that the comment had been taken out of context.
“You’re cherry-picking. How can someone just stand and say there is no corruption in Nigeria? What was the context?” he said, adding that Tinubu was referring to reforms following the removal of fuel subsidy and efforts to curb corruption in the oil sector.
Hasan disagreed, insisting the president did not mention the oil industry in the quoted statement and had faced criticism in Nigeria over the remark.
The interview grew more heated when Hasan further questioned Tinubu’s appointment of Abubakar Bagudu as Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.
Hasan referenced allegations linked to the late military ruler Sani Abacha, noting that the United States Department of Justice previously accused Bagudu and others of involvement in the misappropriation of billions of dollars during the Abacha regime.
He also pointed out that Bagudu had returned $163 million as part of a settlement.
“How can Nigerians take Tinubu seriously on eliminating corruption when he appoints someone like Bagudu to manage the country’s budget?” Hasan asked.
In response, Bwala argued that Nigeria is a sovereign country and that decisions by foreign courts do not bind Nigeria’s judiciary.
“The decision of the court in the United States does not bind the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he said.
