Some lawyers have cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan to stop differentiating between the acts of stealing and corruption.

The President had during the 8th presidential media chat on Wednesday maintained that there was a difference between the two acts. This came several months after he first made a similar statement.

“If somebody is a thief, he is a thief. We should not use the word ‘corruption’ to cover a case of stealing. Thieves should be called thieves,” the President had said.

However, a lawyer and human rights activist, Prof. Itse Sagay, said in a telephone conversation with Saturday PUNCH that there was no technical difference between the two acts and that persons involved in either should be made to face the wrath of the law.

He said, “In a broad legal sense, they are the same. Stealing is taking what belongs to another person without the consent of the owner with the intention of keeping it permanently.

“Corruption is using an office to acquire the resources of an organisation without working for it and without the organisation’s awareness. Looking at it, using an office as a political office holder to acquire what belongs to the state results to stealing.

“Ultimately, every act of corruption is an act of stealing. There is no question about it. There is no moral or ethical difference between them. Both are criminal, immoral and anti-social acts and nobody should attempt to make one look lighter than the other. People who commit either should be dealt with seriously.”

A civil rights lawyer, Fred Agbaje, said President Jonathan’s differentiation between the acts was clear evidence that the President’s government is corrupt.

He said that the President was only giving two terms for same offence.

He said, “Defence of stealing as different from corruption is indicative of the fact that President Jonathan’s administration is morally bankrupt.

“What the President has said is an admission of guilt and that his government is corrupt. It is a distinction without substance. It is calling one object two different names.

The nomenclature may differ, but the substance of both allegations is the same.

“Which of them is allowed in our law whether he calls them in different names? They are both punishable under our penal laws. Stealing is even worse than corruption. Both of them carry a legal element of deliberately taking what does not belong to someone with the intent of depriving the taxpayers.”

amakufrancis:
I see, everyone has his or her brain of reasoning

Gej till 2019

Don't waste your breath on a,rebel. He will despise the wisest advice

adebayo201:


Still looking for excuse for him?!

menesheh:
Whats are they talking about, go Dictionary type corruption, text your answer here and also stealing check ir out


Stealing is part of corruption but does

amakufrancis:
guy you like it or not, Gej will win coming march

We need TRANSFORMATION

amakufrancis:
guy you like it or not, Gej will win coming march

We need TRANSFORMATION

Funny! We've had this man preaching transformation with us for how many years He keeps preaching transformation when the only obvious thing being transformed is their local and foreign bank accounts. Transformation ko, transformer ni.

amakufrancis:
I see, everyone has his or her brain of reasoning

Gej till 2019

2undexy:


na how many times u go need transformation. So since 2011 u never see any transformation..nawa ooo.

Better seek for CHANGE instead of some non-existence transformation

Ngwakwe:
Some so-called intellectuals are becoming mentally redundant.

1. The comment was a direct quote by the President in reference to a speech made by the Chief Justice of the federation.

2. Where I come from, a thief and a corrupt person is not the same so also is it in many parts of Nigeria.

We assume that Abomination is higher degree of Sin hence the Abominable needs to be ostracised.

3. In communication (syntax and semantics), the understanding of the recipient is/should be the target of the speaker to avoid defeating the purpose of the information delivered.

Let's stop flogging the dead horse. There is no mis-communication in the explanation of the President rather what we have are bunch of hate mongers who not only show their stupidity in attacking everything the President represents as a manifestations of the absolute resentment and antagonism.

amakufrancis:

Change from what to what?
Pdp and apc are all corrupt, which kinda yeye change

We benefiting from the Transformation, big time down here in South South, and i know even you is benefiting from.

Micuilles:
Ghost workers in institutions is also corruption, & stealing is involved but not directly. GEJ didn't say stealing is not corruption, he only painted a scenario where he quoted a judge who claimed that most of the case files he was handling were 80% stealing & not necessarily "corrupt" practices. Yes to steal is a crime committed by a corrupted mind, so it can be termed as a corrupt practice, but in a situation where under age gets involved with online crimes, or a couple commits adultery, indulging in indecency movies, etc, it is not stealing, but corruption.

As such, I opine that the word corruption is vague, & that's why it's better to call a thief a thief. There are punishments according to the law for stealing. But one thing is sure, GEJ's regime is far less corrupt than previous, so lets stop over heating the polity.

Ngwakwe:
Some so-called intellectuals are becoming mentally redundant.

1. The comment was a direct quote by the President in reference to a speech made by the Chief Justice of the federation.

2. Where I come from, a thief and a corrupt person is not the same so also is it in many parts of Nigeria.

We assume that Abomination is higher degree of Sin hence the Abominable needs to be ostracised.

3. In communication (syntax and semantics), the understanding of the recipient is/should be the target of the speaker to avoid defeating the purpose of the information delivered.

Let's stop flogging the dead horse. There is no mis-communication in the explanation of the President rather what we have are bunch of hate mongers who not only show their stupidity in attacking everything the President represents as a manifestations of the absolute resentment and antagonism.