Bode Goes to Jail: The optimists, pessimists and conspiracy theorists

My heart was filled with so much joy when I heard the news that the former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Olabode George along with five other members of the 2001/2003 Ports Authority Board are to spend two years in jail. Bode George and the NPA Five were found guilty and convicted on a 47-count charge, which includes disobedience to lawful order and abuse of office by splitting contracts to the tune of N84 billion by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court.

The public reaction that followed the court ruling can be classified into three broad categories. As expected, we have the optimists. These are people who believe that the jail sentence – albeit two years, will serve as a deterrent to other corrupt politicians. For this group of people, such a ruling renews the hope in the nation’s judiciary as an arbiter of the ‘rule of law’. Secondly, we have the ‘pessimists’. The pessimists are of the view that sentencing Chief Bode George to two years imprisonment for a N84 billion fraud is a mere ‘slap on the wrist’ and makes mockery of the judicial system. In fact, such people are of the opinion that the PDP chieftain will probably have the sentence reduced on appeal, after which he can relax and enjoy his ‘booty’.

And thirdly, we have the ‘conspiracy theorists’. The conspiracy theorists are of the view that the sentence is more or less a ‘smokescreen’ to create a distraction so that the Oligarchy can carry on with its business of ‘do nothing’ and protection highly placed powerful individuals from prosecution. And of the course, the recent action of the Attorney-General in the case of James Ibori and Co lends further credence to their view. They refused to get carried away by the euphoria of court judgement because they are not convinced (and rightly so!) that the anti-corruption campaign of the Yar’Adua administration is ‘genuine’.

Whichever way one looks at the issue, the antecedents of this government provides enough evidence to substantiate any of the viewpoints. However for now I belong to the group of ‘optimists’. Yes I agree that two years imprisonment seems laughable, just as the former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion was fined for N3.5m for embezzling N4.4bn! Yes I agree that Chief Bode George and the NPA Five can afford to live in Kirikiri Prison for two years while their proceeds from the N84bn continue to yield interest in their bank accounts. Yes I agree that there are probably bigger thieves, who seem untouchable roaming around the corridor of Aso Rock.

However, we can take delight in a few things. We need to be appreciative of the fact that, despite the rot in the nation’s judiciary, we still few judges in the country who are willing to stand up for the truth against all the odds. We must praise the courage and sagacity of Justice Oyewole in delivering this landmark judgement. Secondly, with the court ruling, Justice Oyewole has effectively nailed Chief Bode George’s political coffin. Whatever be the case, Bode George is now a ‘convict’. Whether he gets a commuted sentence at the Appeal Court is immaterial. This effectively means he cannot hold any political office for the rest of his life! As someone said, even if sleeps one night in Kirikiri maximum prison, that is enough. Also, we need not to look too far to dig up his criminal records, unlike Messrs Ibori and co. There will be safely kept at the Lagos High Court.

Overall it is worth noting one fact on the ongoing saga. Truth be told, the camp of corrupt individuals and treasury looters has no ethnic or religious barrier. You need not to belong to a particular ethnic group or religious sect to be a member. In fact, you need not speak the same local dialect. The unifying factor of corrupt minds is ‘self-enrichment’ and the common language is ‘money’. When people want to collude to loot the nation’s treasury they forget about that ethnic group. The ethnic diversity in the list of the convicted persons is very clear (Bode George, Aminu Dabo, Olusegun Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maidaribe and Sule Aliyu).

We need to point out this fact before some ethnic bigots’ say that the prosecution of Bode George is an ‘ethnic agenda’.

Affluence and Nigerian Churches: 'Touch Not My Annointed.....'

The Nigerian society has been witnessing a continuous utter display of flagrant affluence by church leaders over the last decade or so. Some church leaders live luxurious lifestyles that are devoid of modern day reality. We have also seen churches engage in secular economic activities, some of which borders on societal moral values.

It is unfortunate that in a country of 150 million where more than 70% are living in abject poverty, there are no differences in the lifestyle of some church leaders in Nigeria and Hollywood superstars. A World Bank report recently put the number of unemployed in Nigeria at 40 million (which represents about 25% of the country’s population). To put things in perspective, 40 million is approximately 60% of the population of Great Britain and one and a half times the population of Australia!

I need not to educate you further on the activities of some of these church leaders, and how they have exploited the society. And I don’t think I have the moral authority to query some these activities, which are sometimes described as ‘spiritual matters’ by religious faithfuls. The concern however, is with the system that has allowed all this display of excessive affluence to perpetuate in Nigerian churches in the face growing poverty. The system has failed innocent men and women who see the ‘Church’ as the only place of hope having been let down by state leaders.

And when I say ‘failure of the system’, I refer to the lack of appropriate regulation and oversight on the financial practices in churches across the country. It is common knowledge that churches have now become big ‘enterprise’. The financial turnover of some of these churches are unparalleled to say the least and sometimes larger than that of companies quoted on the stock exchange.

The voluntary work put in by members on a weekly basis to keep it functioning if expressed in man hours and costed accordingly, is mind blowing. It is fair to say that church leaders and directors of public liability companies enjoy almost same benefits and perks. However the fundamental differences are displayed in areas of regulation and accountability.

Companies are subject to series of finance and tax regulation and their directors are accountable to their shareholders. They can be liable for huge fines if their tax files are not up to date and shareholders can demand for resignation of company executives if they are non performing. However on the other hand, most Nigerian church leaders are not accountable to anyone apart from God (if they choose to), and no financial regulator is interested in their books.

In my opinion, I think it is time that closer attention is paid to the financial activities of Nigerian churches. In the western world churches as classified as ‘charity organisations’, and thus, there are exempt from taxation. However, the churches are still expected to file their accounts with the regulator at the end of every financial year. Churches are expected to have a Board of Trustee, who will be responsible for decision making and appointment of Pastors. Pastors are expected to be an annual salary and are treated as staff. These rules are very strict. I know the case of a Nigerian Pastor (names withheld) who was almost jailed for financial irregularities by the UK Charities Commission. He is the Pastor of the largest black church in Europe and since his ordeal; he now seems to be operating from Nigeria.

So what am I saying? I’m not suggesting a ‘socialist’ agenda of cut throat taxation or regulation; either I am suggesting that the EFCC should start chasing Pastors. But I still do feel that the excessive greed of some of these church leaders needs to be put under the spotlight. Unfortunately, most Nigerian churches are operated like a ‘one man business’ or perhaps ‘sole trader’. The founder or General Overseer is the alpha and omega. Members of the church executives/committee who don’t fall in line with the principles (whether good or bad) of the General Overseer are ostracised. There are no policies or systems in place to monitor their activities, therefore giving them absolute control.

Nigerian churches are owners of some of the country’s most expensive schools and universities. Some churches are big real estate investors, selling land to church members within the church premises. We therefore need to ask ourselves, what is the salary of these so called pastors? What proportion of the church income is used for charitable course? Who is creaming the profits made from their ‘extra-curricular’ activities? Who are their trustees? Are these trustees independent or collaborators? Who audits the Church accounts?

The fact that God has called you into ministry does give any Pastor the right to run a church like a personal business. And until the system addresses some of the fundamental issues noted, I’m afraid there is no end in sight for this insatiable appetite for worldly riches.