A member of the house of representatives representing Surulere, Lagos State, Hon. Olatunji Soyinka on Tuesday in Abuja, has said anyone whose asset declaration is found to be false should be jailed.

He made this known in an interview with newsmen prior to the recent asset declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo.

He said that it was a good idea for the President to declare his assests but agencies need to be set up to verify these informations.

He went ahead to say that it will also be a good idea for lawmakers and other government officials to declare their assests.

“I have declared my assets, what Mr President did was right, he declared his asset.

Buhari, Osinbajo Declare Assets

“But we need agencies that will truly verify all assets declarations, once the agency is put in place to find out who defaults, then that person should be punished.

“I will prescribe jail term for offenders; the power of conviction is high, once you are convicted you cannot do many things so people will be afraid of being convicted.

“No matter who you are or what you are, once your asset declaration is false you must be made to pay for it,” he said.

He also urged the National Assembly to update existing laws and the appropriate punishments for offences.

He added that such laws must be re-enacted so that it can serve as a deterrent to corrupt officials.

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“We lawmakers have to go back to the archives and find all those laws that need to be updated in line with present realities so that sanctions can be commensurate with offences.

“We should be able to match that offense with an adequate punishment just as we should also punish corrupt officials according to how corrupt they are.

“We should be talking about conviction in Nigeria, no matter how little you steal, you should be convicted. That should stand as a deterrent to other would be offenders,” he said.
Source : http://www.naij.com/546729-find-lawmaker-demands-false-asset-declaration.html

Good news.