Federal Govt Urged To Pursue Evidence-based Anti-graft War

A public affairs analyst, Dr Ephriam Attah, has urged the federal government to preserve institutional expertise in public finance and ensure anti-corruption efforts are anchored on credible evidence and due process.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Attah said Nigeria risks losing decades of experience through frequent leadership changes and the failure to engage retired senior professionals in governance.

According to Attah, the recent acquittal of former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on six bribery charges by Southwark Crown Court in the UK, followed prosecution by the National Crime Agency.

“The verdict shows why Nigerian anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC, must build cases on verifiable facts rather than allegations or media narratives,

“The fight against corruption is necessary, but it must always be anchored on facts, due process and the rule of law. Media narratives cannot replace evidence before a competent court,” he said.

He noted that corruption allegations often inflict permanent reputational damage even when courts later clear the accused.

“The former NNPC group executive director, Finance and Accounts, Bernard Otti has continued to face public criticism over claims linked to the Alison-Madueke administration, despite the principle that every allegation must be tested through due process.” he stated

He stressed that his position was not to weaken the anti-corruption war, but to push for stronger investigative capacity, professionalism and fairness in the justice system.

The analyst said government must tap institutional memory to close implementation gaps, especially in strategic sectors like oil and gas.

He argued that technocrats like Otti possess deep experience in budget management, revenue reconciliation, audit compliance, financial reporting and internal control systems within major public enterprises.

“People like Bernard Otti understand how government financial systems work from the inside. His knowledge can help reduce implementation gaps that often undermine well-designed policies,” Attah said.

He called on the federal government to establish advisory councils, reform committees and fiscal governance panels to engage retired finance professionals, noting that such a framework would support transparency while preserving critical expertise for mentoring younger public officers.