Mr. Jim Obazee, the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu, has urged Nigerian lawmakers to seek more effective methods for combating corruption, inefficiencies, and wastage in government operations.
Obazee, who was honored with the Gold Prize in Public Service at the ThisNigeria Newspaper awards ceremony, called for greater accountability and reforms within government ministries, departments, and agencies to enhance public service delivery.
The award ceremony recognized Obazee and four other distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to national development. In his acceptance speech, Obazee highlighted the critical role that lawmakers play in addressing corruption and inefficiencies. He emphasized that both State Assemblies and the National Assembly have significant responsibilities to oversee government functions and ensure that public funds are used effectively.
Obazee stated: “We have State Assemblies just as we have the National Assembly, the lawmakers therein are to track down corruption, inefficiencies, and wastes in government business. That should be the role of the Federal and state assemblies. They should be able to design a better way to ensure government delivers on campaign promises and physical distributions.”
He also noted that lawmakers possess substantial oversight powers, including the ability to scrutinize government institutions to ensure they adhere to their legal mandates and operate with transparency.
Obazee’s recent work as a Special Investigator has been pivotal in addressing financial mismanagement. His preliminary report submitted to President Tinubu in December 2023 criticized the Ninth National Assembly’s approval of the securitization of the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means advances. Obazee argued that this approval violated Section 38 of the CBN Act 2007 and Section 80(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits spending public funds without legislative appropriation. His report also pointed out that these actions could be considered criminal under the Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Act and the penal code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.
The report recommended that the federal government should seek a Supreme Court ruling to nullify the securitization approval. Despite this recommendation, the National Assembly proceeded to approve the securitization of an additional N7.3 trillion by the end of December 2023, bringing the total amount to N30 trillion. They later initiated an investigation into this sum, seemingly in response to Obazee’s findings.
Obazee, who served as the former Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council, was recognized for his role in uncovering and addressing financial misconduct in the Central Bank of Nigeria during the tenure of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Appointed on July 28, 2023, under Section 15(5) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), Obazee’s mandate is to investigate and block financial leakages in the CBN and other key government entities. His work involves delivering a comprehensive report on public wealth currently mismanaged by corrupt individuals and entities to President Tinubu.
Reflecting on his award, Obazee expressed his commitment to continued vigilance against corruption and his belief in the capacity of Nigerian lawmakers to improve governance: “The members of the National Transition Committee of the Labour Party, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, Rt. Hon. Linus Okorie, and Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh convened the stakeholders briefing with a view to informing members of the Labour Party, Ebonyi State Chapter, about the future political activities of the emerging Labour Party, which include mobilization of new members and registration.”
