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Of probes and arrests  

By Editor
28 July 2015   |   12:27 am
WITH a promise to fight corruption and curb other excesses in and outside government as a central goal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it is expected that national agencies responsible for investigations and prosecutions would probe citizens against whom allegations of misconduct have been made.
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

WITH a promise to fight corruption and curb other excesses in and outside government as a central goal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it is expected that national agencies responsible for investigations and prosecutions would probe citizens against whom allegations of misconduct have been made.

But what is not expected and would not easily be glossed over is when such investigations are done in a manner that engenders impunity on the part of the agencies of government and have the potential to damage the case for the country. These acts of overzealousness of government agencies that border on impunity would not help the government.

Worse still, they hold the potential of eroding the high moral ground from which the President intends to fight corruption. Therefore, to help the President fight corruption and other  excesses that have impeded the nation’s development, government agencies should learn to operate within the confines of the laws of the country, and with manifest sincerity of purpose.

If the arrests and investigations, especially of the officials of the immediate past administration lead to illegalities, government agencies responsible for them would easily lend themselves to the charge of being used to  persecute past public officials. And of course, nobody else but the president would bear responsibility for such conducts.

The Department of State Security (DSS) might not have taken into consideration these ramifications before it decided to investigate the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) Gordon Obuah,  both aides of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan.

The result was the condemnable shoddiness of the DSS in the performance of its duties that has jarred public consciousness. The agency’s operatives laid siege to Dasuki’s home and prevented his family from having access to him. They took away vehicles, money and other valuables and even broke into his father’s home while the old man was away in London.

And for Obuah, his detention for days triggered anxiety over his health that was only allayed when he was allowed to appear before journalists. Nobody queries the right of the operatives of the DSS to summon any citizen for questioning, especially when allegations of the abuse of public office are made against him or her.

However, it was obvious that the DSS operatives did not execute the investigations of the two officials in a manner that freed it of criticism. Sadly, such sloppiness sabotages the efficiency of the DSS and mocks the President’s fight against corruption.

To be taken seriously and be seen as doing a sincere work, the DSS and other agencies must perform their duties without courting  unnecessary publicity and controversy. They should do a thorough investigation and only inform the public of their findings. The DSS cannot claim to have exhausted a thorough and a quiet investigation and it failed before resorting to the showmanship displayed in the course of investigating the duo.

Since the DSS did not furnish Nigerians with the details of the offences committed by the two persons, it was unnecessary that it should  traumatise the nation with the razzmatazz involved in their investigations.

The Nigerian constitution deems any accused person innocent until tried by a competent court and found guilty. Anti-corruption or security agencies rather nibble away at their credibility by harassing, detaining and meting out other forms of indignity to citizens in a bid to show that they are working.    Obviously, the anti-corruption campaign of Buhari may lead to the investigation and arrest of more people.

Thus, the least the DSS and other  agencies can do to support the president in this regard is to be seen to be doing a thorough job. And this should be strictly in consonance with the laws of the country and with a view to successfully prosecuting culprits.

This would enhance the credibility of the anti-corruption campaign and save the administration from the charge of simply embarking on a campaign of vendetta against its enemies.

Nigerians would be more interested in the convictions of corrupt persons than agencies just parading and disparaging individuals before their investigations and  prosecutions are concluded.

After all, Nigerians have become used to the charade of government agencies accusing persons of mismanaging billions of public funds but after the initial public outrage has fizzled out, the suspects are never effectively prosecuted, nor is any ever sent to jail.

Nigerians want an effective prosecution of all cases of corruption and other excesses to serve as a deterrent to others. This would entail a much more thorough investigation that would furnish the prosecution with unassailable incriminating evidence. Not the made-for-media dramas currently starring the nation’s security agencies.

25 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    Nice one, editor. Pls do not stop these kinds of articles so that the current govt does not return to a pariah state.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Indeed, you are being too diplomatic. The actions of the security agents so far, including the reported denying of Patience Jonathan access to the protocol lounge at Port Harcout airport, amounts to calculated criminal high-handedness, executive intimidation,and behaviour that bothers on violation of the country’s constitution and the fundamental human rights of citizens. It is not mere shoddiness. These are planned acts of crude malice. They are unacceptable and the sooner the good people of Nigeria begin to voice their protest, the better!

  • Author’s gravatar

    How about the victims of corruption

    Corruption is by no means a victimless crime. So far the analysis has been in favor of those accused of pervasive corruption: go easy on them, prosecute them according to their date of birth, allow them to use the VIP section in the airport, do no focus on one region, investigate all governments

    The victims nko

    One minister stole $6 billion. And yet there is no water, no light, no security, no standard hospitals, no good schools and workers have not been paid in his or her local government.

    Where is the outrage on behalf of the victims

    People who have not been paid their salaries, millions of youth whose dreams for a better life has been destroyed, the innocent citizen that was kidnapped, the sick who died in poor hospitals and the society who is victimized by a poor education system

    EFCC should prosecute any case that is ready for prosecution

    • Author’s gravatar

      I have zero tolerance for corrupt officials. But if you believe that one official stole $6B (Billion), then I have a snow wonderland to sell to you in the Sahara desert. Do you know the scale and size of $6B? Abacha in his open and unfettered looting did not even come close. You just allow politician to manipulate your emotions by throwing these numbers around. Trust me, the Nigerian government will find no such money. We are still waiting on them to tell us where the $20B Sanusi and APC claimed was not remitted the CBN is.

      • Author’s gravatar

        Oshiomole and Sanusi have more credibility than all the current registered members of PDP put together

        PDP has to back down from their – catch me if you can – mentality

        Indeed, when the crime was committed, the president, vice president, ministers, head of parastatals and agencies, NNPC officials and the heads of both houses of the national assembly were either members of PDP or PDP appointees

        Similarly, PDP appointed the EFCC chief, the police chief of that time, most of the EFCC prosecutors, most of the Federal High Court Judges, clerks and officials and most of the Justices of the supreme court of Nigeria

        So PDP’s arrogance is apparent: “$150 billion was missing during our watch, one minister alone stole $6 billion, $20 billion is missing from the NNPC, 400,000 barrels of oil was stolen everyday for the past 4 years, $30 billion was depleted from the reserve account. So what – catch us if you can

        So some of these monies has been used by PDP to hire an army of spin masters and bloggers to make and propagate – catch me if you can – arguments

        PDP should take a step back from their arrogance and patriotically face the allegations against them. They must understand that an evil wind blows no man no good. We are all victims of PDP’s profligacy.

        Let us take Abububakar Rimi as an example. On the 4th of April, 2010, armed robbers stopped Rimi on his way to Kano from Bauchi, the robbers recognized him, did not inflict any injury on him and let him proceed on his journey.

        Less than 24 hours later, Abubakar Rimi died from the stress of the incident

        The bottom line is that PDP should return our $150 billion back to Nigeria for the development of Nigeria. That is the first second and their most important issue in Nigeria today

        • Author’s gravatar

          There is no doubt that some misappropriation of funds took place during the Jonathan administration just like the previous ones before it. But the scale is grossly exaggerated by vested interests. That is my own opinion and the scale of the fraud does not make it right. It is wrong. I want to say it on the record. I still maintain that you guys throwing these numbers around are making yourselves look un-serious with those figures. How did Nigeria earn $150B? If Nigeria earned that kind of money within so short a time, the US will relocate its military headquarters to NE Nigeria. You will be disappointed after 4 years and no such money was discovered. Take it to the bank.

        • Author’s gravatar

          My brother i Luv you. You are a blessing to Nigeria. You have demonstrated that you are among those whose conscience cannot be subject to filthy lucre, but stands for truth and integrity. The battle line in this dispensation is drawn between the progressives and reactionaries, the tribalistic and the detribalized, the truth and the lie, integrity and corruption, progress and retrogression, rule of impunity and rule of law. And as the all powerful Creator has eternally decreed, darkness shall never overcome light and the wicked and corrupt shall surely reap what they have sown.

      • Author’s gravatar

        If you and your corrupt masters are depending on the fact that sufficient evidence will not be found to prosecute and jail them, you are in for a shocker. The international bankers and foreign country’s governments you lodged your loot in are going to and are already exposing you, conscientious whistle-blowers are going to expose you and even your people in course of interrogation are likely to have slips that will implicate them. Its a chain reaction cos the Word of God holds true that RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALT A NATION BUT SIN(CORRUPTION) is a reproach to all peoples.

        • Author’s gravatar

          If you hate corruption then you have to hate it absolutely. You can not tolerate it when your people are in power and hate it when others are in power. If he want s to probe, then he should probe everyone. Concentrating only on Jonathan is taking the easy way out. He knows that there are some powerful toes that he would have to step on should he go beyond Jonathan. God is no respecter of persons. He is impartial, we should, to the best of our ability, emulate Him. How many APC sympathizers have EFCC picked up so far? Oh, I forgot that in the make believe world that you live in, it is only PDP politicians that are corrupt.

    • Author’s gravatar

      That’s all Nigerians are clamoring for.
      Nigerians want an effective prosecution of all cases of corruption and other excesses to serve as a deterrent to others. This would entail a much more thorough investigation that would furnish the prosecution with unassailable incriminating evidence. Not the made-for-media dramas currently starring the nation’s security agencies.

  • Author’s gravatar

    These agencies are more interested in publicity than thorough investigation, prosecution, and conviction. They are easy weapons at the hands of politicians seeking to exact revenge on their perceived enemies. Now, Dasuki’s case has degenerated to his treatment of Buhari when he was overthrown by IBB, not corruption under Jonathan. See what I mean? Why was Saraki not investigated by the same EFCC that is hounding him today? He left the Kwara state’s governors mansion more than 5 years ago. Why is it now that he is having disagreements with his party leaders that they are harassing him? The optics do not augur well for the government’s fairness in waging this war against corruption. Buhari should start with his own party members and then extend it to PDP. They too were not corruption free. He should clean his own house first before attempting to do it on a national scale.

    • Author’s gravatar

      – EFCC investigates Dasuki and PMB is accused of seeking retribution for Dasuki’s conduct in 1985;
      – EFCC investigates Madueke and PMB is accused of bias against the South South;
      – EFCC investigates Ekweremadu and PMB is accused of hatred against Igbos and some fringe group start shouting for Biafra;
      – EFCC investigates Fani Kayode and PMB is accused of revenge against GEJ campaign manager

      This mentality -“is he the only one” – has to stop

      The inquiry has to naturally start from PDP members because APC has never been at the helm of affairs at the Federal level – the source of Nigeria’s wealth and corruption.

      Additionally, the president, vice president, all the ministers, head of departments, head of parastatals, NNPC officials and other Federal Government officials, in the past 16 years, were either PDP members or appointed by PDP members

      • Author’s gravatar

        He should investigate Obasanjo and Tinubu first. Their own cases of corruption is open and close case. Once he does that, Nigerians will line up behind him in his quest to rid the country of corruption. Anything less will have the stench of vendetta and a distraction.

        • Author’s gravatar

          PMB has to start from somewhere and its best he starts with his immediate predecessor whose dispensation’s odious corruption reached the highest heavens as to make even God himself to intervene for their removal. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear that Jonathan’s government was the most corrupt, listless, clueless, sectarian, divisive, impunity-laden, lawless, deceptive, i-don’t give-a-damn regime Nigeria has ever had the misfortune to experience. It’s therefore a distraction to start shifting blame and lamenting over a noble cause to clean up the mess of a generation of directionless governance.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Leave God out of Nigeria’s politics. It was people like you that also claimed that God intervened to save Nigeria when Abacha took over from Shonekan. Anti-democratic people always mask their undemocratic undertakings as the will of God.

      • Author’s gravatar

        GOOD BLESS YOU JOHN PAUL. YOU ARE A TRUE PATRIOT. RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Nigerians want an effective prosecution of all cases of corruption and other excesses to serve as a deterrent to others. This would entail a much more thorough investigation that would furnish the prosecution with unassailable incriminating evidence. Not the made-for-media dramas currently starring the nation’s security agencies.

    • Author’s gravatar

      It is also called name and shame

      Publicity is a very important part of the criminal justice system and deterring others – especially public officials – from committing crimes

      Dominque Strauss-Kahn, former IMF president, was publicly accused and indicted for rape in New York, Bill Cosby is being publicly accused of rape and President Clinton was being publicly accused of perjury

      IBB, Abacha and other Nigerians have been publicly accused of corruption at different times

      Transparency is the most effective disinfectant – Justice Luis D. Brandeis

      • Author’s gravatar

        Not a very effective method. It attempts to rush to the court of public opinion to tip the perception of guilt. It is used when you really don’t have solid or concrete evidence to convict a suspect. It is like going for the lowest hanging fruit when you doubtful of success in the tough work of prosecution.It is said if you keep repeating the same thing over and over again, you probably are having self doubts at your ability to do it. The downside of the name and shame method is also that even civil servants and political office holders now will begin to plan for their own day. By secretly stealing what they can and cleaning up records. Even the best law enforcement people will tell you that if majority of the population do not conform or wont do the right thing, your enforcement actions are in vain.Despite the public firing squads of the eighties, armed robbery escalated.why?.

        • Author’s gravatar

          My brother:

          Nigerians believe Lamido Sanusi (former central bank governor), Chuwuma Soludo (former central bank governor), Adams Oshiomole (former NLC president) because they have no ax to grind

          We have to be intellectually honest. About 400,000 barrels of crude was stolen everyday from the Niger Delta in the past 4 years, one minister alone pocketed $6 billion dollars, $20 billion was missing from NNPC and $30 billion was spent from the reserve left by Yar Adua

          During the same period, the people in charge of the bank vault and their cohorts deposited billions of dollars in different accounts – that can be traced to them- all over the world.

          Meanwhile, the roads in the Niger Delta are in very poor condition, so are the schools and hospitals. Security is porous, cultism is everywhere, the environment is degraded, investors are fleeing from the madness and civil servants have not been paid their salaries

          Even the people that are responsible for the looting cannot stand the stench that they created in Nigeria. So they have fled the country with their loot and hired “brilliant” people, as spin masters, to propagate their deceit

          • Author’s gravatar

            Thanks. I accept for verification claims and accusations from the people you mentioned. Don’t necessarily believe them…. 2 are politicians…..and 1 is an ethnic ruler. Trust but verify. Always. What we are advocating is that the current administration verifies with vigor their claims and prosecutes where crimes have been commited. That strengthens our democracy.Not rushing to the court of public opinion with ‘could easily be imagined accusations’ to a gullible public. The excreta and the stench is being propagated by many more people than you know. Most Nigerians are deep in it and pointing fingers is easily a way to distract attention from yourself when a mob faces you.Good thing at least the mob listens to the current president for now. Being not selective is a good way to avoid dividing the mob and losing their good will forever. Do it now and do it fast and do it well.

          • Author’s gravatar

            GOOD HIT!

      • Author’s gravatar

        Transparency? When it suits them, it’s effective disinfectant, if it goes the other way, it’s fathom or dismissed. That’s the effects of modern political media powers. Nobody should convicted except by court of competent authority and social medias. Slavery was once defended. Even confederate flag was being defended until a month ago. No condition is permanent.

  • Author’s gravatar

    WE THE PEOPLE, THE MASSES KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BUHARI IS A VERY FIT AND PROPER PERSON FOR THE JOB. WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BUHARI IS A VERY WILLING, VERY ABLE AND VERY READY PERSON, WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BUHARI WILL NOT LET US DOWN, HENCE WE VOTED FOR HIM VERY MASSIVELY TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA. THE ALMIGHTY GOD WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND PROTECT PRESIDENT BUHARI AND HIS ADMINISTRATION