THE office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, and that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been speaking on Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the governor of Sokoto State from 1999 to 2007, who has been facing incarceration and injustice in the hands of the two government departments. The bone of contention is the controversy surrounding the N11.8 billion Bafarawa bequeathed to his successor, Alhaji Aliyu Makatarkada Wamakko.

The EFCC was the first to betray its ignorance or mischief on the matter when it stated that it was not aware that Bafarawa, at anytime, petitioned the commission over the controversial N11.8 billion. Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesperson had said: “I am not aware of any petition from Bafarawa addressed to EFCC chairman at any time….I have no knowledge of such petition”.

We are amazed because Uwujaren obviously spoke for his boss, Ibrahim Larmode in particular and the entire commission in general. As a public relations person engaged by a government agency, we expect Uwujaren to understand the environment in which he operates. Such an understanding is very important if he must discharge his responsibilities diligently. If he had bothered to carry out a little research, he would have known about the Bafarawa case. But now, he has only succeeded in embarrassing the commission.

It is important to recall that Bafarawa, on May 30, 2007, petitioned the EFCC chairman over the claim made by Wamakko on his inauguration day (May 29, 2007) when he claimed that he met an empty treasury in Sokoto state. Bafarawa reacted swiftly the very next day (May 30, 2007), drawing EFCC’s attention to his (Bafarawa’s) financial transactions as the governor of Sokoto state. In the petition, Bafarawa stated that he left the sum of N11.893, 624,428.54.  Since Wamakko was disputing inheriting this sum of money, Bafarawa in the petition asked the EFCC to freeze the account of Sokoto state government and investigate the matter with a view to establishing who was telling the truth between him and Wamakko. The records are there at the EFCC. Is it not a shame then for the commission to say that it is not aware of any petition from Bafarawa? Perhaps If Larmode had accepted to speak on this matter himself, he would have been in a better position to put the records straight.

It can be suspected that Uwujaren and his commission feigned ignorance in order to run away from the wrongdoings of the commission. Nigerians of goodwill are still wondering why EFCC refused to act on Bafarawa’s petition one year after he wrote it only to turn round to arrest him on trumped allegations handed over to it by Sokoto state government. EFCC has, since 2008, been unable to explain its action especially since it could not prefer charges against Bafarawa. Was the EFCC trying to cover up in this matter? Before our very eyes, Bafarawa, the complainant, was made the accused. Will EFCC ever explain its action in this regard?

Then came the office of the AGF. Following the unfair trial he has been facing at Sokoto State High Court, Bafarawa had petitioned the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke, requesting that the case be transferred to a Federal High Court. Bafarawa’s petition to AGF was predicated on the fact that he cannot get Justice in a court where his accuser (the Sokoto state government) is also the prosecutor and the judge. Bafarawa wants a Federal High Court where the likelihood of the outcome of his trial being influenced by the Wamakko government is low. Besides, Bafarawa argues that the case in question is between him and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not Sokoto state government. Bafarawa argues further that he is the only ex-governor whose case is being handled in a state High court. Based on these reasons, Bafarawa urged Adoke to transfer this case to a federal High court.

Bafarawa’s petition has been with Adoke since June 20, 2012. After one year of prompting, Adoke has spoken through his aide, Peter Akper. What did he have to say after 12 months of silence? He said the issue raised by Bafarawa in the petition fell outside his jurisdiction. He said: “the issues raised in the petition are in the realm of state laws and the AGF has no jurisdiction on state laws”. Now, we ask: Is this what took the AGF one year to say? Why did the AGF not deem it fit to respond to Bafarawa’s petition dated June 18, 2012, telling him that he has no jurisdiction over his case?

We have said time and time again that public office is a trust. Those who occupy it do so on behalf of the people. They are not there for their own sake. Adoke as a learned gentleman ought to know this. He should have known that he has a responsibility to serve the public. Responding to petitions such as that of Bafarawa is one of the things he ought to do. Ignoring Bafarawa or any other petitioner as he has done is contemptuous. It shows that he has no respect for the people he is serving or the office he occupies. This kind of attitude is unhelpful to the good cause government is supposed to pursue. That is why we have been saying that the likes of Adoke are not helping the Jonathan administration. They should not be allowed to drag everyone down.

On the issue of jurisdiction, we really do not agree with Adoke. The case in question is between Bafarawa, 15 others, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. How can the Attorney General of the Federation not have jurisdiction over a matter that involves the federal government? We do not understand this claim. It is patently false. We believe that the AGF is putting up such a show to cover up his tracks. We do not believe him.

Adoke should stop pretending. Public office does not admit of such ignoble acts. His attitude towards Bafarawa and his petition is suspicious. He is giving the impression that the Jonathan government is an interested party; and that is why we say that Adoke is giving the government he serves a bad name. We expect him to change his attitude and do the right thing over Bafarawa’s case. History reserves a harsh verdict on those who choose to be on its wrong side.

•Ime-Ojo is of Good Governance Initiative and contributed this piece from Abuja.