Some lawyers have cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan to stop differentiating between the acts of stealing and corruption.
The President had during the 8th presidential media chat on Wednesday maintained that there was a difference between the two acts. This came several months after he first made a similar statement.
“If somebody is a thief, he is a thief. We should not use the word ‘corruption’ to cover a case of stealing. Thieves should be called thieves,” the President had said.
However, a lawyer and human rights activist, Prof. Itse Sagay, revealed that there was no technical difference between the two acts and that persons involved in either should be made to face the wrath of the law.
He said, “In a broad legal sense, they are the same. Stealing is taking what belongs to another person without the consent of the owner with the intention of keeping it permanently.
“Corruption is using an office to acquire the resources of an organisation without working for it and without the organisation’s awareness. Looking at it, using an office as a political office holder to acquire what belongs to the state results to stealing.
“Ultimately, every act of corruption is an act of stealing. There is no question about it. There is no moral or ethical difference between them. Both are criminal, immoral and anti-social acts and nobody should attempt to make one look lighter than the other. People who commit either should be dealt with seriously.”
A civil rights lawyer, Fred Agbaje, said President Jonathan’s differentiation between the acts was clear evidence that the President’s government is corrupt.
He said that the President was only giving two terms for same offence.
He said, “Defence of stealing as different from corruption is indicative of the fact that President Jonathan’s administration is morally bankrupt.
“What the President has said is an admission of guilt and that his government is corrupt. It is a distinction without substance. It is calling one object two different names.
The nomenclature may differ, but the substance of both allegations is the same.
“Which of them is allowed in our law whether he calls them in different names? They are both punishable under our penal laws. Stealing is even worse than corruption. Both of them carry a legal element of deliberately taking what does not belong to someone with the intent of depriving the taxpayers.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Hahaha He Want Legalised Between Corrupt And Steal, What A Shameless Attempt? This Ijaw Nt Be Gud For Nigerian Dev.
ReplyDeleteHe Himself Believed His Govt. Nt Against Corruption And Stealing, Instead Always Want Make-up The Act, Hhmmm
U know mr GEJ is a ph D holder but cannot differentiate between stealing & corruption, thank god
ReplyDeleteMy learned gentlemen, don't use your technical jargons to confuse us. The President was clear that the two acts were bad and condemnable,but based on the fact that ordinary person on the street pays more attention to stealing than corruption, he prefers we call it stealing,so that the society can also contribute their own quota in the fight against corruption.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how learned feoolws like you have refused to appeal to rational reasoning because of your political mindset. You clearly stated in your definition that stealing in taking what belongs to another, without his consent and with intention of keeping it permanently. In some cases of corruption, one of the parties actually gives willingly what belongs to him/her in other to get what he wants from someone who occupies a favourable position. You'll agree with me that your lawyer's definition of stealing does not take care of this.
So please,leave GEJ alone,we understand what he means,and please when next you want to talk on sensitive issues like this,don't tell us you're a lawyer because,you insult the profession.
Thank you Christopher for trying to explain to twisted minds the simple statement made by Mr President. What the president said is that the word thief is more shocking to the average Nigerian than corruption, therefore it would make more impression to call a corrupt person a thief in the fight against corruption. In Nigeria.
DeleteAn obvious comment of cluelessness by Mr. President... a male human being is a male human being whether you call him Tom, Dick or Harry.
ReplyDeletewww.newscarrier.net for your valentine free offer
ReplyDeleteApparently, in the PDP constitution/guide book, corruption is different from stealing and as long as u do not 'steal' or engage in armed robbery, corruption is allowed. Look at their past and present leaders(OBJ inclusive).
ReplyDeleteTell him and his co-thieves. He thinks he can fool us for life.
ReplyDeletePls tell 'em In animal kingdom were this man belong stealing/corrouption is celebreted
ReplyDeletePlease GEJ, think before speaking in public. You are making Nigeria look like a hopeless country in your utterances.
ReplyDeleteDat is why he (GEJ) must go, we need change COME 28 MARCH, CHANGE WE WOULD VOTE
ReplyDeleteAre U not CORRUPT Urself? MUMU! U need CORRUPT men to bring U CHANGE. I pity U life that has refuse to CHANGE. ABOKI!
DeleteJonathan and his government we know they are corruption God will take them out on 29 may and change with a better person that is not corrupt either Nigeria like or not GMB is not corrupt we need him “march4buhari"
ReplyDeleteNo going back all of us in ONDO STATE will March for BUHARI come march 28. Changeeeeeeeee
ReplyDeleteEvangelist Ernest Uzoho wrote:
ReplyDelete2015 general election will not be a contest between Jonathan and Buhari; neither will it be between christians and moslems, nor between north and south, but between light and darkness. I have chosen light because a dim light is better than darkness. The only change we can get in darkness is to change into gross darkness. Some of our governors talk like drunkards and semi lunatics. For a governor to say that holy men of God took a bribe of N6 billion naira without proof because they defused his deception called 'change' what will you call that? I wondered if it was Adeboye or Kumuyi or oyedepo that took the dream money. There are some good people in the opposition who could have done better in national leadership, but not this one I saw. I will not vote illiteracy, forgery, deceit, hate and propaganda. I will not vote fanatism, because fanatism is the father of terrorism. I will not in my right mind choose he that said it is his will for sharia to spread to all states of the federation. I am a graduate of petroleum engineering, and my wife is a PhD researcher in nano technology, in our right mind we will not choose a school cert forger to rule us, because we hate cheating, it is the mother of all corruption. A man is not a change agent because he changed the name of his political association, or because he jumped from one to the other to seek for relevance. A lizard in America will not become a crocodile in Africa. Change is from within, not on bill boards. We have not yet got a true ideological alternative to the ruling party, what we have is the same people but aggrieved, shouting 'change'. But as for him, it is better to stay with a dim light than to chose an uncertain gross darkness. God bless my reader.
A very big amen!
DeleteOur dear Evang. has succeeded in telling us his opinion. Our pastors should stay clear of politics so that they will not lose their respect. You may have phd or msc but not well educated. Put sentiments aside and say the truth objectively.
DeleteGod bless this writer
DeleteIN pdp, WHILE SOME ARE DESTINED TO STEAL, OTHERS ARE FOR CORRUPTION AND BOTH WOULD ROT IN JAIL AFTER THE 28 MARCH4BUHARI IF THEY REFUSE TO PAY BACK INTO OUR COMMON TREASURY, THE NIGERIAN WEALTH THEY EITHER STOLE OR CORRUPTED! PEOPLE DECEIVING PEOPLE - pdp!
ReplyDeleteCHANGE as the 28 march4buhari is very much at hand!
Buhari is the right man for the job,no going back no matter what.
ReplyDeletegood talk my Evanlgelist......those who are half bake literate should think of going back to school rather than planning to rule a nation
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned,APC and BUHARI cannot promise us change and eradication of corrupt practices, when their party is now inundated with all the principal participants of the corrupt practices they intend to fight. Except they will exonerate those who did not join their bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteIt is also important for them to acknowledge the little the present government has done to built and sustain the Nigerian spirit,and promote continuity.
If we want to become great as a Nation, we must identify with a national agenda which everyone must carry along,both the candidates and the electorate.
Our politicians now strike themselves,giving little consideration what the impact will be on the nation's image. That's bad enough! We must realize that our politics is now amongst the worst,morally worldwide.
We hav only 1 country lets not pull it down with our uterance s. We are not the worst in the world. let us learn to respect constituted authority. Dont quote people out of context to score cheap political gain. Stop heating up our political environ pls
ReplyDelete