IJPSD

ISSN: 2360-784X

 International Journal of Political Science and Development
 

International Journal of Political Science and Development

Vol. 8(4), pp. 163-171, April, 2020. 

DOI: 10.14662/IJPSD2020.100

ISSN: 2360-784X

Research article

African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption: The Role of Diplomatic and Consular Services in the War against Corruption in Nigeria, 1999 – 2019

¹Nwinkol, Barinaadaa and ²Dr. Kia, Bariledum

¹Assistant Lecturer, Department of History and International Diplomacy, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt

²Department of History and International Diplomacy Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. Corresponding author’s E-mail: kiabariledum091@gmail.com

Accepted 28 April 2020

The realization of the extent to which corruption has impeded economic growth and development prompted African leaders to device means of combating it. This was through the African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption adopted in 2003 but entered into force on August 5, 2006. Among other things, the convention mandate state parties to domesticate its tenets by establishing agencies to tackle the menace. The paper after making a laconic analysis of the efforts, challenges and impediments of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies in the war against corruption, further outlined the role of the Nigerian Foreign Service in the anti-corruption crusade. It pointed out quite explicitly that Nigerian missions would have to negotiate various kinds of treaties in their respective countries of accreditation to discourage money laundering, and ensure monies stashed in foreign bank gets home and the criminals prosecuted. It concludes that targets should be set for the missions as performance measurement technique to ensure they effectively play their role in the corruption war and made recommendations.

Keywords: Corruption in Nigeria, Economic growth, African leaders, African Union Convention, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), other anti-graft agencies in the war against corruption