The Wicked Zacchaeus Syndrome: How Corruption Hides Behind Law and Authority in Nigeria – OpEd by M. Musa

In this thought-provoking OpEd, M. Musa draws on the Biblical story of Zacchaeus to illustrate modern corruption in Nigeria. Unlike the Biblical Zacchaeus, who misused power for personal gain, today’s “wicked” exploit legal frameworks, manipulate laws, and hide behind authority to enrich themselves, while institutions fail to hold them accountable. Musa warns that corruption is no longer just about looting money—it can be the subtle theft of governance itself, where silence and inaction allow elites to prosper at the expense of justice. The piece urges society to demand accountability and highlights that history and divine justice ultimately record every wrongdoing.