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| The Ibori Trial: An Acid Test |
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| Thursday, 13 December 2007 | ||||||
     The Yar'Adua administration started quite well on assumption of office 29th May 2007, with his first Presidential speech. That his government was going to be a listening government, a serving public servant that is going to listen to public opinions and foster the interest of the Nigeria populace. This was quite contrary to what was obtained in the immediate past administration of Obasanjo, where we had public Masters. On the path of honesty, President Yar'Adua admitted that the election that brought him into power/office was marred with a lot of election irregularities (which is something most Nigeria public office holders will not admit to). And therefore, he was going to reform the Nation's Electoral process. This he complied with by instituting the Electoral Reform Committee, headed by Justice Uwais (SAN), former chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). It will be agreed that the intentions of the Yar'Adua's administration was good toward this angle. However, the man that was made the head of the electorate reform body, Justice Uwais, who we consider as a national shame, that brought the nation's judiciary into disrepute, whose integrity is nothing to write home about, can be regarded as the thorn in the flesh of the electoral reforms intended by the President. Though, thank goodness, that in recent times we have seen positive changes in the judiciary, starting with Justice Belgore, and now Justice Idris Kutigi, with some brave and focused court verdicts, upturning some of the flaws prevalent in the judiciary with Elections petition (Election conducted by INEC), like the cases of James Obi of Anambra state, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state and so on, which did not happen throughout the 8 years of Obasanjo reign as president. With this turn of events in Nigeria's judicial system, most Nigerians have concluded that the Yar'Adua administration have actually kept to its promise of being a listening public officer. However good the government has been so far, there is an aspect that has kept on re-echoing and can be regarded as a big headache of the Yar'Adua's administration, which if not removed, will spoil whatever efforts made so far by the government. Now, the unending trial/case of the former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori (in connection with Britain), over alleged money laundering and corruption, has become a trial/case that has raised so much dust in the country and the international scene, that one wonders, what is so special/different about the Ibori case, that the present administration is finding it difficult to settle. Well, it appears that the Federal Government has been playing one trick or the other to stall the Ibori case instituted in the United Kingdom (UK). This will be made clearer when we consider closely, the turn of events that has developed to the present state of, almost to a stand still of the Ibori case. The first obstacle posed by the Federal Government on this Ibori issue was the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, who wrote a letter to the British authorities (metropolitan police), that Ibori is not being investigated or facing any trial at home (Nigeria) for financial crimes, this move by the AGF caused a lot of changes made by the UK authorities to vacate the first order given by the court to freeze Ibori's accounts and assets. It was the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in collaboration with the Metropolitan police, despite Ibori's appeal, that the assets are still frozen. Then again, the same AGF has refused to give the approval required by the London court to persecute Ibori, with the frivolous excuses that such trial should be done in Nigeria. The AGF willful act of obstructing justice, by giving baseless excuses, to not endorse the trial of Ibori (which is required by the British authorities to effectively try Ibori), that would clear the air for the alleged corruption and financial crimes, running into billions of Naira belonging to Delta State, is a clear demonstration of acts that are anti-corruptive in nature and it is quite unfortunate that it is coming from a high sensitive position in the country. Until this moment of writing this article, the AGF has not complied with the British authorities to finally end the Ibori case. His reason for not doing what was required was that, the trial in Britain will tarnish the image of the Nigeria judiciary, that such trial should be made subject to Nigeria Justice. But we ask, where was the crime committed? On whose ground, and whose banks were used to launder the alleged public funds? Why should the Ibori case be an exception? It is no longer news in the international scene that Ibori (alleged to have) stole money meant for the (Delta State) in Nigeria. So, preventing such a trial will further bring national shame and damage the country's image which the AGF is claiming to uphold. Basically, Government is shielding/protecting Ibori from being tried and persecuted accordingly (on the international arena, because the case has actually escalated to that level). We ask again, who is the AGF protecting? Whose interest is he trying to foster? Nigeria's interest! or that of a selected few! The money stolen are laundered from Nigeria and used to buy properties and assets in other countries (like Britain and U.S.A). This has made the Nigeria Public and the international arena, to watch with keen interest, whether the President will continue to sit back and harbour this man called Michael Aondokea, who has lost shame and a senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for that matter, whose outbursts on the Ibori case (since it started) is clearly a display against the anti-corruption crusade engineered by the present government. People will begin to question the integrity of Nigerian SANs. If the truth be told, in a normal country, this kind of person (AGF), needs to be de-robbed for painting the country's judiciary in a bad light. Like we have said before now, the best thing (and for the interest of Nigeria) for the Yar'Adua to do is to sack the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aoadoakaa, and if he must remain in the circles of government, should be transferred and re-assigned to another ministry, where he will not frustrate the good works of the EFCC and ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission). He should be somewhere else, but definitely not the sensitive position of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. The AGF is employed by President Yar'Adua, and now that he is misbehaving, sabotaging all the efforts of his administration on anti-corruption crusade, he should be sent out, for others whose mind/hands have not be polluted/marred, to come in and replace him. Recent events have obviously shown that the AGF is constituting a hindrance to the bold fight against corruption. Let us re-emphasize that, if Ibori contravenes the laws of the UK (arising from the Nigeria context), he should be punished if found guilty. Why all the dilly dallying and so much noise? Besides, a free conscience fears no accusations, what are they afraid of? As an ex-officer in Nigeria, does it mean if Ibori had committed crime in the UK (while in office) he should not be persecuted? It is only a trial to nullify or substantiate the allegations levelled against the former governor; Ibori can even be tried in absentia. Why is the AGF frustrating the case? If personalities of governance (especially Mr. President), encourage this trend, then the much talked about crusade/war on corruption is useless. If President Yar'Adua continues to entertain this attitude from the AGF and allow him to stay, Nigerians will conclude that the AGF was put in place by the president to do this dirty job of stalling the activities of EFCC and ICPC from exposing and persecuting some sacred cows. Because the AGF is seen as one without shame and integrity that can handle this sort of arrangement, hence, his continued stay. Otherwise, why is it taking so much time for the president to once and for all, close the Ibori case. Let President Yar'Adua note that, the natives of Delta State, under the aegis of Delta Elders, with its leadership, Veteran E.K. Clark and Chief Johnson Ukueku (the foremost pharmacist in Nigeria), have spoken, and has called on the President to sack the unpatriotic AGF, Michael Aondoakaa, but yet, the President is still harbouring him. It appears President Yar'Adua is beginning to destroy his work (so far) with his own hands. Why should he tolerate and still accommodate this national shame posed by the disdainful outburst or the Attorney General concerning the anti-corruption crusade, especially on the Ibori issue, that ought to have ended a long time ago. Just recently, in one of the daily newspaers, the AGF reacted to the increasing calls for his sack, saying that he has never interfered in the work of the EFCC nor any investigation for that matter. That he is basically observing and making sure the rule of law is entrenched in the country's legal process. But we ask; does the rule of law encourage corruption? By protecting corrupt ex-public office holders, stalling their being tried, is it what the rule of law is all about? Is the AGF saying that public officers can carry public funds and transfer them into their private accounts and into assets? The AGF should understand that Nigerians are not fools, by painting this picture of being the only one that know the rule of law, he cannot claim to be right while majority of Nigerians (stakeholders) are wrong. Our brother James Ibori has looted public funds meant for Delta state and was caught abroad, and the AGF is claiming rule of law when his actions and utterances are all deliberate moves to frustrate/stall and shield the culprit (running away from being tried). The AGF also claimed to be working with the EFCC, but how can he be working with the EFCC when he has deliberately refused to accent to the requirements needed by the EFCC and the UK authorities to persecute Ibori . The support given to EFCC to vacate the restraining order from a Benin court cannot be used to justify his position. If actually his reasons and actions are genuine, why is he now turning around to be a stumbling block for Ibori's prosecution. The EFCC and the UK police are serving the same purpose/aim, that is to return stolen funds back to the coffers of government it belongs to in the country. The two (duo) are fighting the same cause, so, why is he not supporting the UK authorities? In yet another reaction to Chief E.K Clar'?s comment, the AGF regarded his criticisms as his own personal opinion. But the AGF should realize that the opinion of E.K Clark is not (and cannot be) his personal opinion, rather his statement/comments are the opinions/views of Delta elders and major stakeholders. The point Clark is trying to stretch is that the government must be accountable to its populace. It is not a selfish statement but one made, as a result of the prevailing circumstances surrounding the Delta State ex-governor's activities of 8 years. The AGF also said in the report that E.K Clark should be pointing accusing fingers to the Delta State's AGF and commissioner for Justice, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) who dragged him and others to court to stop investigation of the EFCC. We believe the Delta State AG is probably doing what he thinks best, which many has criticized and kicked against for what was done was wrong, and nobody is praising him for it. But that does not dispute the current trend of events where the AGF is not helping matter at all, to allow for a smooth running of the Ibori case. Let President Yar'Adua realize that Deltans have spoken on how Ibori stole money from the state to invest abroad, (since he says his government is a listening one and we believe so), Nigerians are watching, the international arena are observing, to find out, what will finally be the outcome of the Ibori saga. This will definitely explain to Nigerians and the world at large, the honest stance of the present administration?s war on corruption, coming from anybody. Though there are speculations that Ibori has been arrested by EFCC in Nigeria, however, that does not mean he should not face the trial awaiting him in the UK. As far as we are concerned, Ibori should be handed-over to the UK authorities for prompt trial and persecution for appropriating public funds meant for Delta State. The AGF should in no way interfere with this process of sending Ibori to the UK to face the music, because one cannot be sure of Ibori's (effective) trial in Nigeria, with the way things are going. Let our leaders (starting with the President) thrive to protect the interest of the Nigerian masses and not that of a selected few, the AGF's position should be the first point for correction. This we urge. Zik Gbemre National Coordinator  Quote this article on your site | Views: 655 | Print | E-mail
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