Obasanjo: Lawmakers told me they’d go to prison if they passed my anti-corruption bill

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has cautioned that the nation cannot achieve substantial progress as long as corruption persists. Obasanjo made these remarks during the public unveiling of a book titled "Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria: Law, Prosecution and the Recovery of Illicit Assets," authored by Dr. Wahab Shittu, a lecturer at the University of Lagos.

The ex-leader recounted his personal experiences in combating corruption and discussed the creation of anti-corruption bodies in Nigeria. He emphasized that corruption is fundamentally at odds with development, stating that the two cannot coexist. Obasanjo's engagement with anti-corruption efforts began during his military service, where he served as a military prosecutor and member of a court martial handling corruption-related matters.

His dedication to the cause intensified after retiring from the military and becoming a farmer, when he was approached by Peter Eigen, a former World Bank official who co-founded Transparency International. Obasanjo and Eigen subsequently established the organization, with Eigen serving as chairman and Obasanjo as chairman of its advisory council.

During his presidency, Obasanjo cited Transparency International's model anti-corruption law as the basis for Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Initially, the bill faced opposition in the National Assembly, with lawmakers reportedly warning Obasanjo that if they passed it, many would end up in prison.

It took 18 months for the legislation to become law. Obasanjo highlighted that corruption disproportionately harms the poorest, worsening their economic conditions. He described corruption in various forms, such as unexplained wealth and illicit funds, as "antisocial," "anti-development" and "anti-progress."