SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, (THEWILL) – The chief executive, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, who is also a Labour Party chieftain, has hailed the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which granted him a perpetual injunction from being arrested or harassed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Government on charges relating to the oil subsidy payment , saying the victory is for “all Nigerians”.
The court on Thursday had granted the Anambra state politician, who is seeking the gubernatorial ticket of the Labour Party, and his company, perpetual injunction from arrest over the subsidy payment charges.
Reacting to the judgement, Ubah said it has reinforced his belief in the judiciary as the hope of the common man.
He also reassured his supporters about the unambiguous ruling that “the February 18, 2013 judgement, the House of Representatives Report and the Police Report of February 12, 2013 collectively tantamount to a complete and final exoneration of any criminal offence with regard to application of subsidy payment under the Federal Government of Nigeria Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) Scheme” against him.
“It is expected that those who delude themselves that smearing my name by bandying the spurious allegation will stop me from pursuing my ambition, will have a rethink,” he said in a statement he signed on Friday.
According to Ubah, the “ complete exoneration from any reasonable suspicion of commission of any criminal offence under any subsidy scheme will make the threat of detention, arrest or prosecution by the EFCC or any agency of government against me an infraction of my fundamental human rights.”
Ubah said further in the statement: “It is remarkable that the court has successfully resisted attempts from sundry quarters, through several devices, to sway it to debase justice and return a pre-determined ruling.
“When a disagreement arises between contractual parties, it is the court of law, following time-tested procedures, recognising neither friend nor foe, refusing to be swayed by the opinions of howling mobs, interested parties or political hirelings masquerading as public-spirited commentators, that must be the arbitrator. It is for this that an independent judiciary has remained the bedrock of any democracy.
“This judgment again confirms the courage of the Nigerian judiciary in upholding the rule of law and protecting our democracy. It is not just about Patrick Ubah’s political ambition and the unseen hands attempting to manipulate the system to impede that ambition. No! It is me today but it could be anyone else tomorrow.
“This victory is for all Nigerians who are tired of being blackmailed by unfounded allegations of crime and humiliated through malicious instigation of the prosecutorial process. It is a wakeup call to law enforcement agencies that there are minimum ethical and constitutional standards set by our Constitution which must be met before there can be a legitimate exercise of their lawful immense investigative and prosecutorial discretion – so that innocent Nigerians are not tarred unjustly.”
“In my case, it was conveniently forgotten by certain government agencies that it is a given in law that no one is tried more than once on an issue or allegation, otherwise legal trials would become fishing expeditions on an unending sea of unfounded allegations just to weigh the accuser down and discredit his image.
“This is what makes this legal victory not only mine, but a victory for all Nigerians because this will serve as a precedent for any Nigerian that would be unduly hounded in future. May our nascent democracy thrive! May it endure!”
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