On 14th May 2014, for desecrating a holy land, a former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years in prison. The judge also fined him one million shekels about 289,000 dollars and ordered that 560,000 shekels in his assets be seized. Olmert was found guilty by the Tel-aviv District Court of accepting a 500,000 shekel bribe from developers of a controversial apartment complex known as HOLY LAND after which planning and zoning laws were changed, and another 60,000 shekels for another project, and sentenced accordingly.
The 68 year old prime Minister was convicted in March, interestingly not necessarily for crimes he allegedly committed as a Prime Minister, but in connection with the real estate deal that took place while he was Mayor of Jerusalem. The sentencing must have humbled the man who left power in 2009, following a gale of alleged corruption charges. That he is now going to prison for a bribe he took as a Mayor many years is pointer to the fact that there is nothing like just a little sin. It also tells us that no matter how long it takes to be discovered or decided, crimes should always be punished. More significantly, it is pointer to the fact that laws should be no respecter of persons no matter the status in the society.
Former prime Minister Olmert’s regret would have been that he did not have an opportunity of plea bargaining or soft landing, two major concepts that have been widely abused to shield influential Nigerians from Punishment for stealing and other corrupt practices. Even more worrisome is that the people that will be leading to beg on behalf of these people are religious leaders, Bishops, cardinals, traditional rulers and educated elites and some educated illiterates, who will tell you why it didn’t it start from this person. This person is a thief, that person is a thief. He is a member of that party, that is why he won’t be touched. As a matter of fact, Former President Goodluck Jonathan as a judge could have dismissed his crime as stealing and not corruption. How could accepting a mere 500,000 shekels have amounted to corruption?
Unfortunately, Former Prime Minister Olmert is not a Nigerian. In Israel, there is no academic or legal gymnastic of trying to make any distinction between stealing and corruption; just as there are no safety nets for corrupt individuals, no matter how highly placed. Indeed, the Trial judge, Judge david Rozen who was disgusted by Former prime Minister Olmert’s crime made a profound statements while delivering the judgment. According to the Judge, bribery offences contaminate the public sector and cause the structure of government to collapse. He added: “people who receive bribe give rise to a feeling of disgust and cause the public to despise the state’s institutions. The taker of bribes is like a traitor who betrays the public trust that was given to him- trust without which a proper public service cannot be maintained. How much in Nigeria where people do not only take bribe, kick back from Contractors, but also loot Public funds with impunity. There are a lot of revelations in the last one year. Some call it witch hunting, some call it ethnic cleansing. Some say it is one sided. But none of these individuals have denied not receiving money nor betraying public trust.
Yes the Judge acknowledged that Former Prime Minister Olmert had made a large contribution to the country, he nonetheless had no choice than to sentence him because his offences were noxious and he was guilty of moral turpitude. Under Israeli laws, this precludes Former Prime Olmert from running for public office for seven years after finishing his jail term. His only hope is for his appeal to be upheld. The former Prime minister’s comportment in the court room was also instructive. He reportedly stood quietly in the court room and his head bowed.
Nigeria has many lessons to learn from almost everything about Former Prime Minister Olmert’ trial and conviction. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who served as Olmert deputy Prime and Foerign Minister said: “It is a difficult day when a former prime minister is sentenced” adding “ I have complete trust in the court and law enforcement officials.” Here political, religious or ethnic undertones would have been read into the case and everyone else, excluding the criminal, wouldhave been blamed for the crime. Some will call it witch-hunt, they are against the igbos, they want to exclude the igbos from the position.
Nigerians look forward to that difficult day when one of their former leaders or even the people that they are being tried now would be shown the way to prison; some of them deserve to be behind bars considering the mind-boggling corruption they perpetrated in office. That they walk about freely and even insult our sensibility with their insensitive comments and actions make our hearts bleed.
Some gullible Nigerians will being to ask questions that makes someone sick. Why starting from these persons. Why not start from this person and that person. Who prosecuting only members of these parties, why not the ruling party? Is Amaechi not corrupt? Is Tinubu not corrupt? Is Fayemi and Fayose not corrupt? I am not the spokesman of these individuals. But the little information I have, Tinubu was investigated during PDP Government, if they have evidence against him, they would have nailed him. If they have but did not use it, that shows how gullible that Government was. In the case of Amaechi, I believe the current Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike should copy from Benue State Governor and do the needful as the man is doing with Gabriel Suswan, instead of whipping cheap sentiments. Also the APC as a party has challenged the Opposition PDP on many occasions to provide to the public all those corruption charges against their members. Then let it be on record that they did not do anything.
Last month, The PDP Caucus in the National Assembly said they are withdrawing their support for President Buhari on the premise that the anti-corruption agenda of Mr president is one sided. The PDP Caucus must be reminded of their primary responsibility of lawmaking and representation of their constituents at the National Assembly. I advise the PDP Senate Caucus at the National Assembly not to allow political shenanigans to becloud overall national interest.
On allegations of selective prosecution of the anti-corruption war, the I asked the PDP and most especially Governor fayose and Wike to approach anti-graft agencies with petitions against anybody suspected to have indulged in corrupt practices. The PDP Caucus allegations of a selective anti-corruption fight and “belligerent” stance of the current administration is hogwash and baseless, If the PDP and its agents have proof of corruption against anybody, We advise that they approach anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases, instead of declaring innocence on newspaper pages and other media outlets. The poor Nigerians urged anti-corruption agencies “not to be stampeded and blackmailed by this new plot and continue to employ all legitimate avenues in investigating and prosecuting ongoing corruption cases. The generality of Nigerians clamour for all looters of public funds to be brought to book. I want EFCC to assure Nigerians that the political will and sincerity of purpose of
the current administration to tackle corruption remains resolute.

Corruption is a monster that has slowed the development of this country. We must join the fight against it. Had it been the way APC under President Buhari is fighting Corruption, PDP under President Goodluck did the same, I believe we would not have been where we are today. Any Nigerian no matter his status in the society caught in any corrupt practice should be dealt with. I am not a fan of plea bargaining or soft landing. Our Judges should help us to deal with this monster. They should not entertain all these frivolous motions and delay tactics of some so called Senior Advocate of Corrupt Nigerians. I believe our Judges should learn from this judge of Israel who gave this landmark judgement.

Otimkpu Paschal, a graduate of International studies and Diplomacy, University of Benin, a public affairs analyst writes from Awka Anambra State.

There's no how we will have a succesful fight aganist anything when we don't believe in one God.