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Nigerian Information and National Orientation Minister Frank Nweke on Thursday in Abuja faulted Transparency International's rating of Nigeria as the third most corrupt nation in the world.
Abuja - Nigerian Information and National Orientation Minister Frank Nweke on Thursday in Abuja faulted Transparency International's rating of Nigeria as the third most corrupt nation in the world.
The latest rating was released in October by the Germany-based global non-governmental organisation.
The oil-rich West African nation was for several years rated only better than Bangladesh in world's corruption rating.
Nweke said the latest rating was not based on scientific findings and that the basis for the rating was borne out of a perception, which did not represent the true position of things.
"Is it not surprising that those who say Nigeria is corrupt have never for once mentioned anything about countries that harbour and keep stolen monies and their looters," he argued.
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"The entire situation does not depict justice, and that is why as a country, we do not agree with such rating," he stressed.
The minister added that President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration had achieved a lot in its battle against corruption, and stressed that more efforts were being made everyday to strengthen the nation's anti-corruption campaign.
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the governor of the oil-rich Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta, is currently on trial in Britain for laundering £1,8-million (about R20,4-million).
British police found the money in his home and arrested him in September as he stepped into the country on his return from a medical trip in Germany.
His wife, Margaret, was arrested from the governor's London home Tuesday after the Metropolitan police found £s;435 000 in the residence.
The governor's trial continues in London on December 8. Margaret has been released on bail and is to report to the police also in December. - Sapa-dpa