Corruption as a Crime Against Humanity: Any Justification?
Abstract:Corruption is an ageold menace having devastating impact on global peace, economic development and progress. It covers a wide range of practices which is bordering on law,
economics, security, religion, morality and above all, survival! Corruption impeaches good governance, rule of law, harmony, peace, progress and development. According to the World Bank, more than one trillion dollars is paid in bribes every year and the cross-border flow of proceeds from corruption, criminal activities and tax evasion is estimated at 3.61 trillion dollars every year or the equivalent of 32.5 percent World‘s Gross Domestic Product. Similarly, the African Union (AU) estimated that corruption costs African economies in excess of 148 billion dollars a year which represents 25 percent of Africa‘s Gross Domestic Product. The cumulative effects of this are slow but painful death of millions of lives who ought to be beneficiaries of the stolen funds. Notwithstanding the overwhelming effect of corruption, it is not listed as one of the crimes against humanity in the Rome Statute. This paper therefore is an attempt to examine the meaning and effect of corrupt practices with a view of justifying the inclusion of corruption as a crime against humanity.
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