Human and Environmental
Development Agenda Resource Centre (HEDA), has given the Federal Government 30
days to commence immediate prosecution of the former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and former Director General of
Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayodele Oke over alleged
corruption scandals.
The non-governmental organization
issued the warning following the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Walter Onnoghen.
HEDA called on the government to
apply the same speed in prosecuting other government officials with corruption
cases.
HEDA chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju,
stated this in a letter to the AGF threatening to institute legal action
against the AGF after 30 days, if the Minister failed to begin the prosecution
of Babachir Lawal and Ambassador Oke.
The letter read: “First and
foremost, we most humbly applaud and commend the timeous and prompt nature with
which the office of the Honourable Attorney General of Federation and Minister
of Justice ensured the expeditious prosecution of the Honourable Chief Justice
of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen over the non-declaration of
assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“Based on the foregoing, we had
wished the swiftness applied in the speedy prosecution of the Honourable Chief
Justice of Nigeria could be visited in effecting the prosecution of several
pending corruption-related cases investigated by the anti-corruption agencies
in Nigeria.
“Prominent among these cases are
the reported case of fraud allegation against the former Secretary to
Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, which was reported by several
newspapers and upon which Mr Babachir Lawal was sacked from office.
“It was reported on the 30th day
of October, 2017 that the former Secretary General of the Federation, Babachir
Lawal was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari based on the recommendation of
the panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Though, he was interrogated
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and reportedly detained by the
Commission. He is yet to have his days in Court.
“Another case which bears so much
resemblance with the aforementioned case was reported since 2017 wherein the
former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke,
was suspended in April, 2017; following the raid conducted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission in April 2017 where about $43.4 million, and nearly
£27,800 and some N23 million Naira ($75,000) was recovered at his empty
apartment at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was eventually sacked in
October 30, 2017, based on the recommendations of the same three-man Panel
headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“The office of the Attorney
General of the Federation and Minister for Justice is saddled with the powers
to institute, undertake, take over, continue and discontinue criminal
proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a
court-martial, in respect of any offence created
“We have the mandate to pursue
till infinity, accountability, transparency and integrity in governance. Owing
to this, we hereby request that the office of the Honourable Attorney General
of the Federation exercises its power to prosecute the above-mentioned
individuals indicted by the vice president’s panel, with the view to setting a
standard that the law is to be upheld ultimately to setting same as a deterrent
to future perpetrators.
“As part of our mandate of
promoting accountability in governance and monitoring compliance of
anti-corruption agencies with their mandate in ensuring fair prosecution of the
fight against corruption without element of bias against only political
opposition, we demand urgent and immediate prosecution of the principal
suspects in the Babachir Lawal and Ambassador Oke scandal with immediate
effect.
“Failure to institute the demanded
legal action against suspects with one month of the receipt of this letter, our
organization will be left with no option than seek judicial action to compel
your office to discharge its constitutional responsibility.”
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com