US envoy John Campbell said Nigeria’s anti-graft drive would receive strong support from the US government.

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr John Campbell, yesterday warned that corruption represents a serious threat to Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

But Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd) said the commission’s onslaught against corruption in the country has caught top officials of government.

Speaking at the opening of a training seminar organised by the United States Department of Justice for the staff of ICPC, Campbell said corruption in Nigeria was a major threat to the practice of democracy.

“Nigeria and the United States are partners for the establishment of real democracy which is underscored by the rule of law. Democracy is governed by the rule of law. Democracy and the rule of law are directly undermined by corruption,” he said

In apparent reference to the “Watergate Scandal” of the 60s in his country, he noted that even the United States at a point was enmeshed in the war against corruption but won the battle with the involvement of a virile press and other robust organs of government.

“Those who know the history of the United States will know that at a point in the 19th century, we had to wrestle with corruption. An angry citizenry, a robust press and strong judiciary exposed corruption. The rule of law is a strong weapon against corruption”, he said.

Campbell said the anti-graft drive of the government would receive strong support of the US government in view of the related legal systems in both countries.

Earlier in his remarks, Akanbi commended the Government of the United States for its assistance in training its staff as well as sponsorship of some of its enlightenment programmes.

“The fight against corruption has not been easy but it will succeed in this country. We have had criticisms of catching small fish but we have caught the big ones now and we are proceeding with their prosecution”, he said. He also appealed to donor countries for assistance to the commission.

Kingsley Nwezeh, This Day (Lagos), July 7, 2005