by Eze Eluchie
Large scale corruption is perpetuated, not usually by physical
stealing or movement of cash, but by a deft manipulation and adjustment of
funds, usually by crafty (mis)representation of figures or accounting
procedures and provisions.
It thus ordinarily follows that one group which might probably have
helped to perpetuate the horrendous depletion of Nigeria through corruption and
dubious money keeping and financial practices are our Accountants.
From the quasi-criminal certification, as vibrant and thriving concerns that our
major Chartered Accountancy firms routinely stamp on the Annual Returns
Booklets of firms and financial institutions which later collapsed after
hapless citizens expend their life savings in shares on such moribund entities,
to their willingness to collude with International oil conglomerates and those
entrusted with our oil revenues to short-change the Nigerian treasury; from the
creative voodoo accounting common place with our public sector which makes it
easy for billions of Naira to vamoose from vaults without trace, to the
depletion of our pension funds which makes it clear to most Nigerians who have labored
in the public sector that their labor has been in vain as they look forward to very
bleak retirement; our Chartered Accountants have been most unfair to the
Nigerian contraption!
As part of the process of national reconciliation, it will be
wonderful if this professional body, some of whom have gone ahead to occupy
exalted positions in our contraption, were to come out and apologize to Nigeria
and Nigerians for harm and pain caused us all.
I was thus thrilled to learn that a man who is in a position to render
such an apology on behalf of his colleagues, and who is considered as the
'Doyen of the Accountancy Profession in Nigeria' and who has contributed
enormously to that sector of our collective ruin is still alive and could
hopefully voice the much needed and reconciliatory apology on behalf of his
'professional children'. Pa Akintola Williams, whose Accountancy firm, founded
in 1952, and has played a pivotal role in all the issues described above and
more recently in the scam perpetuated against hapless Nigerian
share/stockholders in Cadbury Plc and the equally hapless British shareholders
of Cadbury Schweppes Plc where bogus accounting practices caused financial
losses in the millions to innocent investors who relied on the 'professional
expertise' of our Chartered Accountants, has certainly lived through the ages
and is best suited to proffer the much needed apology.
No doubt, the Doyen has retired from the profession at the time his
'professional children' executed some of these scams, but the firm used to
perpetuate the rot, still bears his name and he still receives royalties
therefrom. There is also no doubt that, out there, there are a lot of Chartered
Accountants who, like the Doyen, discharge their responsibilities
conscientiously in compliance with the highest dictates of their noble
profession - the malfeasance of the bad eggs and the inability of their
professionals disciplinary authorities to cleanse their body of bad eggs, has
brought odium to their lot whilst pauperizing our country.
As we wish the 'Doyen of the Accountancy Profession in Nigeria' who
recently celebrated his 93rd birth anniversary last August more years in good
health ahead, he is humbly urged to on behalf of the thousands of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria issue an
unreserved apology to Nigeria and Nigerians for harm caused. Only such an
apology will justify the several accolades that have most likely been lined up
to be showered on the Doyen at an appropriate time in the near future.
Picture: Pa Akintola Williams
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