By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has strongly rejected Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s proposal that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu grant amnesty to treasury looters in exchange for returning stolen funds.
This is contained in the press statement issued on sunday by Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) insists that such a move would entrench impunity and weaken Nigeria’s already fragile anti‑corruption framework.
According to HURIWA, corruption is not a financial disagreement but a betrayal of public trust, and restitution must never equal immunity.
Allowing perpetrators to escape punishment simply because they return part of the stolen wealth would encourage officials to steal today, hide funds for years, and return them later under government amnesty.
HURIWA has therefore demanded immediate rejection of any blanket amnesty for treasury looters.
It calls for specialized and speedy courts to fast‑track corruption cases, comprehensive forfeiture of illegally acquired assets following conviction, and long‑term imprisonment with maximum lawful penalties for grave offences.
The Association also insists on stronger financial‑intelligence mechanisms capable of tracing stolen wealth across jurisdictions, mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership of companies and properties used to conceal illicit funds, and independent anti‑corruption agencies insulated from political interference.
It further demands fast‑tracked prosecution of high‑value cases so that billions stolen do not remain unresolved for decades, and public disclosure of recovered assets and funds, including identities of convicted persons, subject to legal safeguards.
The Association referenced China’s uncompromising stance on corruption, citing the recent sentencing of former Nanjing official Yang Youlin to death for accepting bribes worth over 2.2 billion yuan.
While HURIWA does not advocate copying every aspect of China’s justice system, it stresses the principle behind such severity: corruption must carry consequences strong enough to deter public officials from betraying the people’s trust.
HURIWA emphasized that corruption is not merely an economic offence but an attack on the nation itself.
When billions allocated for healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security are stolen, ordinary Nigerians suffer directly. Corruption destroys institutions, deepens poverty, weakens national security, and erodes trust in government.
The Association insists that Nigeria must demonstrate that the treasury is not a free‑for‑all for political elites and that public office should never be treated as a personal ATM.
While acknowledging that Senator Kalu’s proposal may be well‑intentioned, HURIWA warns that it sends the wrong signal.
Amnesty would encourage corrupt officials to calculate that they have little to lose: steal now, return later, and walk free. Nigeria needs a system where the calculation is reversed, where stealing public money risks loss of freedom, assets, and social standing after due process.
HURIWA’s message to President Tinubu is clear: Nigeria must not negotiate with corruption. Restitution is necessary, but it cannot substitute for justice. Blanket amnesty would institutionalize impunity, embolden looters, and erode public trust.
Instead, Tinubu is urged to launch a comprehensive national anti‑corruption offensive that combines asset recovery, transparency, institutional reform, and severe lawful punishment. Only by making corruption a high‑risk enterprise can Nigeria restore confidence and deter future generations from turning public office into a tool for personal enrichment.
