$30bn loan: I don’t believe in borrowing – Justice Mustapha Akanbi-PUNCH

THE pioneer chairman of the ICPC, retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi, has opposed the proposed borrowing of about $30 billion by the Federal Government, saying he does not believe in borrowing.

Speaking during commissioning of a library complex built by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation in Ilorin on Thursday, the retired president, court of appeal said the present government should prefer better management of economy than borrowing.
Justice Akanbi also said that Nigerians should be informed of facts behind the proposed borrowing.
“For me I do not believe in borrowing. I do not borrow money and I do not encourage my children to borrow money. I do not know how they make it. Even now that we are in recession, I have cut down what I give to people.

“Didn’t we even beg that they should write off our debt? I do not know the facts that determine the issue of borrowing. I know if you leave according to your means, you will not be in trouble. Even Buhari should prefer better management of economy than borrowing. Everybody should prefer better management. If you manage your affairs better,” he said.

On the way out of recession, Justice Akanbi said that, “we should please ask our president, whom we voted for, to really find a way of boosting the economy of the country. A hungry man is an angry man and a bitter man. If the money they are collecting, in fact, I am looking for whether I will get a telephone call to the Vice-President  as a lawyer that by next year, they will start campaign for election, if people are hungry they will not be happy. So, we should do our best. I know he is trying; they are collecting money from those who have taken bribes and the rest. But let us see the effect in the lives of the people.”

Also speaking, a legal icon, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), urged the government to continue its war against corruption, saying, “unless we are able to reduce corruption to its barest minimum, corruption may continue to consume all of us.

On the allegations of corruption against some judges in the country, Fagbemi said judges were not different from other members of the public.

“However, because of the special position that judges occupy and because of the functions they perform especially as the third leg in the tripod. So government had to be a little careful not to intimidate them or subjugate or cow them. Rather, if government has allegation against anyone of them and government believes that the allegation is substantial enough, government should bring it to the fore.

“Before now, those saddled with the responsibility of disciplining judges has been doing so. Except that we will advise that they step up their efforts. It is not good enough, if you hear something say something. If you see something do something,” he said.