by Eze Eluchie
The primary
function of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, in addition
to prosecution of offenders is the protection of the general population from
the antics of unscrupulous private and public entities.
In
furtherance of this noble role, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation
in several sane climes has penalized several corporate conglomerates, public
agencies and individuals who have in one
way or the other tried to abuse, cheat, undermine, defraud, under-change or in
any way short-change the public or State interests.
The Office
of the Attorney General of the United States of America has just announced (19th March 2014), an agreement
under which Toyota Motors will pay the people and Government of the United
States the sum of over U.S. $ 1,2 Billion for wrongs committed by Toyota in
amongst other infractions, failing to expeditiously recall defective Toyota vehicles, some of
which caused the death of American citizens.
The same Office
of the Attorney General of the United States of America in collaboration with
the Offices of Attorney General of several component States of the American
federation, had under the Masters Settlement Agreement (MSA) forced Cigarette manufacturers (Multinational
Tobacco Conglomerates) to pay an astonishing U.S. $ 25 Billion over some years,
for the damages caused by cigarette products to the peoples of the United States.
Across
sub-Saharan Africa, all the national, regional and State Governments have
enshrined in their structure an ‘Office of the Attorney General’, which on
paper are charged with similar functions as their counterparts in the US and across member States of the
European Union. Unfortunately however, that is where the comparison expires.
Corporate
bodies across sub-Saharan Africa commit and get away with all manners of crimes
and at times partake in the ultimate crime (murder), as was the case with the killing
of environmental activists in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Rather than
act to protect the interests of the domestic population and State, our Attorney
Generals often times exert their intellect (or whatever is left of it), to re-write,
obviate and truncate the intendments of domestic statutes to ensure that those
who trample on the local populations, not only get away with their crimes, but
also make financial benefits therefrom.
When will
the various corporate giants which thrive on corruption, bribery and brazen
theft across sub-Saharan Africa be made to account for their wrongs by the public office charged with that responsibility?
When will our
laws begin to serve as a tool for development and not an avenue for continued
degradation of the hapless populations in sub-Saharan Africa?
When will
vehicle/product recalls and other actions taken against corporate entities at
their countries of origin be replicated in sub-Saharan African States?
When will
the various Office of the Attorney General in sub-Saharan Africa assume the responsibilities for
which they are created?
Picture: The Law
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