Lawyers Advocate Whistleblowers’ Legal System

Some legal practitioners in
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Mararaba in Nasarawa State have advocated enactment of a law to legalise whistleblowers in the country’s legal system. Whistleblowing is “the disclosure by a person, usually an employee in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or some other wrongdoing.” “A whistleblower is a person who exposes any kind of wrongdoing. The lawyers made the call in a survey conducted by  newsmen  on the “Implication of having a Whistleblowe: in our Legal System”, in Abuja.
They told that the law would protect and encourage whistleblowers to expose wrongdomgs in the society’.
The lawyers added that the presence of a whistleblower would keep people on their toes and rid the country of corrupt individuals.One of the respondents, Mr Olakanmi Olajide, said whistle-blowing had become strategic and Important in most climes. Olajide said: “whistleblower will be strategic and important in Nigeria if only we can manage them well.
“According to him, it is a welcome development in the legal system, especially in the 21 st century.
He opined that his only fear was using it to settle “personal vendetta”, instead. of exposing corruption and wrong doings in the society.
Similarly, Mr Umar Abdullahi, told The Tide source that having wistleblowers in the country’s legal system would check and regulate excesses in the system.
Abdullahi said a whistIeblower would help the system because people would be cautious. Also Mr Luka Haruna, said enshrining whistle-blowing in the legal system would open up the space in the administration of justice in Nigeria. Haruna said when they know that whatever they do would be in the open, they would be careful to comply with the rule of law.
In his submission, Mr Anthony Agboonlahor, told The Tide source that a whistIeblower could assist in fighting crimes. “As citizens of Nigeria, we are enjoined to assist the law officers and law enforcement agents in the apprehension of offenders from escaping from lawful custody. “Whistleblower is a patriotic act to help rid the society of crimes and criminals. “In other climes and jurisdiction, whistleblowers are remunerated if their information leads to the arrest of a criminal or nipping in the bud commission of an offence,” he said.
He advocated a law to protect and conceal the identity of whistle blowers as well as a witness protection programme. Mr Shaka Awaliene, another respondent said that whistleblowers could be used in security issues, adding “all that is need is protection”.
Mr. Paul Ashuikeka, said that the whistleblowing would help in the fight against corruption and in criminal investigations.
Ashuikeka said that many cases were stalled at the courts because of lack of information and evidences to prosecute erring Nigerians.
Contributing, Mr Kanu Ogbonnaya, told The Tide source that a whistleblower help to set the machinery of the law in motion because the law enforcement agent might not be everywhere. “I saw more of strength in it than the danger. WhistIeblowing will assist in investigation and subsequent trial of an offender. “When you go after a whistIeblower as an offender, you are committing more crime.”

Former National Security A0.dviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), conferring with his lawyers at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory where he is standing trial over Alleged Misappropriation of N32 billion arms fund in Abuja on Friday . The case was adjourned till February 4 for the hearing of the Ex-NSA’s application for stay of proceedings.