Corruption has always been one of Nigeria’s major challenges, with some Nigerians saying government officials and politicians who are caught should face the wrath of the law like those who steal on the streets. We sought opinions of some Nigerians.

Since this is a democratic era, anchored in accordance to the rules of law, I suggest corrupt officials should face the wrath of the law. They should be properly investigated and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to other politicians with such ambition.

Corrupt officials should be striped completely of possessions of their ill-gotten wealth and a life jail sentence given to them. As long as they are granted bail or given a minimal jail term, they will come back to the society and breed bad eggs who will follow in their footsteps, so the best thing is to get rid of them permanently and the Nigerian society will be better.

Corrupt government officials have continued to be punished according to our existing laws, but this has not served as a deterrent because over time, more government officials have been caught indulging in heinous acts while in office. I therefore suggest that our laws in that regard be reviewed to include harsh sentences as obtained in other climes. If a government official, for instance, knows that the Chinese treatment of death or life imprisonment awaits him or her if public funds are plundered, that will go a long way in restoring probity and accountability in government circles.

I think a corrupt government official, has among other things, betrayed the trust of those he or she serves and should be, one, forced to resign, two, stripped of every privilege he or she enjoys as a leader, three, serve a jail term of a stipulated period no less than three years, while being made to refund any financial gains gotten directly or indirectly from the corruption charge.

Corrupt officials should forfeit all their properties and should be given a jail sentence of not less than 30 years. All privileges due to them, including pension and so on, should be withdrawn because that is the only way they will feel the impact of the crime they have committed. This will in turn, hopefully serve as a warning to others.

The Constitution contains punishment for crime against the nation. The criminal is equally clear on this. What is left is for these laws to be applied justly if we want to tackle corruption.

I think they should be removed from their position because some of them use their position to encourage corruption because they are corrupt as well. But when the government starts dismissing them, it will serve as a deterrent to others too. And whatever they acquire illegally should also be ceased from them.