Students Protest Ibori’s Prosecution In Abuja

San Francisco, April, 23, (THEWILL) – Students under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday stormed the Abuja office the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), protesting against what they called ‘selective justice and political witch hunt’ in the prosecution of fugitive former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

Some of the placards read, ‘Respect court injunction’, ‘Leave Ibori to the law’, and ‘EFCC must obey rule of law’.

NANS Director of Action and Mobilization, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, who spoke on behalf of the students said it was wrong for the agency to declare Ibori wanted days before the April 17 when he was billed to turn up at the commission adding that a Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, restrained it from arresting the Ibori, pending the determination of an earlier suit filed by Ibori.

"We want to sincerely advise the EFCC to carry out its holistic duties without prejudice or sentiment. All actions of the EFCC must be in conformity with the rule of law. Ibori should be re-arrested if a prima-facie case is established against him by a competent court of jurisdiction," the student leader said.

Responding to the protesting students, EFCC Secretary, Emmanuel Akomaye, said the commission was not selective in its fight against corruption. He also said there was no court order stopping the agency from arresting Ibori.

Explaining further, Ekomaye said, corruption continues to be a major challenge to the country and urged the student body to join the commission in fighting it.

"The fight against corruption is our collective responsibility. Your message today will ginger us to do more work," he promised.

The NANS Communiqué unedited:

CONTEMPT OF COURT MUST BE ABOLISHED NOW!!!

…who is after Ibori?

"What is good for the goose is ultimately good for the gander."

It has been ascertained by knowledgeable authorities that the fundamental basis of governance of every nation is the utmost conformity to the rule of law and unbiased adjudication of corrupt plenipotentiaries of the people.

When the Obasanjo Administration propounded and eventually established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the anti-graft body shouldered with the onerous task of obliterating corruption from our polity, Nigerians heaved a sign of relief with the belief that at last, our elected representatives will be accountable to the people while dissidents will be made to cough out whatever has been stolen from our treasury during their servitude to the nation.

This singular act was seen and applauded by Nigerians, most especially the youths, who are always at the receiving end of this wanton act of that mal-administration without recourse to humanistic concession.

Years after this laudable people’s watchdog agenda, vis-à-vis the dexterity of the Ribadu led EFCC in bringing people to book, irrespective of whose horse is gored, Nigerians witnessed an improvement in governance and stewardship to the fatherland as our elected representatives becomes more responsible to the people as the fear of EFCC is the beginning of accountability.

Alas, it is bemusing to note, and servo-comic to observe that the revered anti-graft body is gradually sub-summing into a witch-hunting paraphernalia employed by malodorous personalities, hell bent on destroying one another in order to achieve egocentric ends, making it laughable, as pots are now boldly calling kettles black!

While we applaud, eulogies and commend the seeming wonderful achievements of EFCC, under past and present leadership, Nigerians wonder why the much respected body have decided unwittingly to make disregards for the rule of law and selective justice it hobby.

Are we not all in Nigeria, when EFCC pursued Iyabo Obasanjo on the pages of newspapers for weeks on a N300 million committee fraud? Despite Nigerians’ interest to see the logical conclusion of the imbroglio, it was swept under carpet and rendered EFCC paper tigers and toothless bull-dogs in some cases albeit.

WHY IBORI AGAIN?

• Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, alongside other former governors and elected representatives had been arrested and put up for trial for various offences perpetuated during their stewardship.

• Through court verdicts, EFCC had recovered huge sums of money from some of the former elected ambassadors of the people, while others are still in court, waiting for judgments.

• Out of all the former governors, James Ibori was the only governor that was detained by EFCC for more than one hundred days before he could secure his release through the court of law.

• A Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State had already restrained EFCC from arresting Ibori, pending the determination of an earlier suit filed by Ibori against EFCC’s unconstitutional assaults.

• James Ibori has been on trial since, and had been honouring court orders and summons, believing that justice will prevail, through the court of law.

• It seems to us that this is a political machination, disguised as a judicial proceeding to hood-wink Ibori and his political allies into submission before 2011 elections.

Don’t we all know that as first lady of Bayelsa state, Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan was caught laundering huge sums of money belonging to the Bayelsa people by the same EFCC, while the same EFCC is still battling to convince Nigerians that the case and that of the multi-million naira cutlery scam never happened. Is EFCC still in the process of investigation, after all these years? SELECTIVE JUSTICE GBAM!!!!!!

IBORI’S CURRENT TRAVAIL

Even though he was not properly served, the EFCC claimed Ibori was to report at its office in Wuse, Abuja on the 17^th of April 2010, it is therefore amazing why the EFCC had to declare him wanted days before the supposed April 17 stipulated date, despite knowing that he will honourably honour their invitation.

We opine strongly that since affinity does to engender responsibility, especially when such is beyond one’s ability, EFCC should not be used as an instrument of witch-hunting or political prejudice.

CONCLUSION

In view of the above mentioned synopsis, NANS want to opine that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan should face the business of giving quality leadership to Nigerians and avoid distractions being caused by misdeed makers.

We want to sincerely advise the EFCC to carry out its holistic duties without prejudice or sentiments. All actions of the EFCC must be in conformity with the Rule of Law.

This current act of EFCC, if properly diagnosed, can be perceived as a sinister motive of certain persons to activate selective justice as a tenet to dissuade political futurism.

We need to alert the member of the public that the present occupation of Oghara, the hometown of Ibori by the combined team of the law enforcement agencies and military personnel is another “ODI” massacre in the making. Jonathan should be advised not to repeat the barbaric genocide perpetrated against the people of the Niger-Delta by the Obasanjo regime under the toga of looking for James Ibori.

RULE OF LAW IS SACROSANCT, SELECTIVE JUSTICE IS RETROGRESSIVE

Ibori should be re-arrested if and only if a PRIMA-FACIE case is established against him by competent court of jurisdiction and not pre-judicial crops of men!

Let’s obey the Rule of Law Now!!!

This is not a judicial or constitutional trial, but a political trial.

Issued by:

Directorate of Action and Mobilization

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)

© April 2010