Miscellaneous

Just Don't Answer Their E-Mail: Combatting Corruption in Nigeria

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Proving our theory that examining problem-solving court specialties leads one directly to the top seemingly unsolvable problems of the day, now comes the anti-corruption court.

Corruption is the result of the lack of civil society, the breakdown of one or more of the estates (usually the fourth, but who's counting), and vast differences in the distribution of wealth (though not necessarily poverty per se, say researchers).

Corruption diminishes public trust and erodes institutions. Like quicksand, it sinks often already needy people into deepening poverty.*

International pressure has led to some reforms. For example, admission to the E.U. depends in part on a country's anti-corruption efforts. But is that enough? And what about the rest of the world?

A pending bill in Nigeria would create a special court for financial crimes related to corruption. Hopefully, it would not only help the country's economy by decreasing corruption, but also help speed up caseflow in the general jurisdiction courts. See Senate to Create Anti-Corruption Court, Laide Akinboade, Vanguard (May 12, 2008).

According to the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Kenya, Pakistan, and Philippines have tried implementing anti-corruption courts, and the idea is close to reality in a few other countries.

The courts are not without criticism, though. In the wrong hands, they make excellent political weapons. For some models and guidance, see Anticorruption Laws, Kala Finn, Anne Skove, et al (June 10, 2004).

See also the truly amazing mission and work of Transparency International.

*As for whether corruption is merely one culture's tradition vs. western do-gooderism, Transparency International says "cultural relativism ends where the Swiss bank account enters the scene."

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on May 11, 2008 (boomark / email).