RIGHTS GROUP WARN EFCC, NJC TO STOP PROLONG PERSECUTION OF POLITICIANS
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Conference of Nigerian Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA) has warned the Nigerian Judicial Commission (NJC) and Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to stop further persecution of politically exposed persons who had been standing trials for over a long period of time without judgment.
In a communiqué signed by the convener of CNCRA, Ifeanyi Odili at the 2017 second Board meeting held in Akure the Ondo State capital, the group said it would no longer allow persecution of anybody by any of the government security agencies to go unchecked, thereby condemning in strong terms the types of prosecution EFCC has been carrying out in recent times.
“The CNCRA has in the last two weeks advised all its members across the country to attend court proceedings to monitor EFCC prosecutions. In adherence to this, on the 9th of June, 2017, the CNCRA attended a proceeding at court 3 of Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, to monitor a case of EFCC vs Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State. It was to our greatest apprehension that the case has lingered on for close to seven years. We were reliably informed by our source at the court that the suspect, OGD had entered his appearance for at least 40 times and up till the last adjournment, the EFCC was yet to close its case.
“Apart from the fact that prolonged trial is a denial of justice, and that the right of the suspect is being infringed upon, it is an obvious waste of Nigeria’s scarce resources in the face of economic recession. It is a great surprise that a case that was opened in 2011 is yet to be determined, leaving us to ask, if the EFCC has actually established a prima facie case against the suspect who has been standing trial for the past six years”, the communiqué read in part.
In the light of foregoing, the group further stated that “the EFCC has no cause to arrest the suspect in the first instance and only acting a script of certain political figures which makes the whole prosecution a subterfuge,’
“That the EFCC is not genuinely fighting corruption as it would want to have us believe in this case, The prosecution of the former governor is a mere persecution and political gimmick aimed at achieving some hidden agenda of certain people
The prosecution is no longer for the interest of the people of Ogun State and very unhealthy for Nigeria’s economy?
The CNCRA therefore, called on the chairman of EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Magu to call for the immediate discontinuation of the case forthwith if he wants to safe the integrity of the EFCC under his tenure.
FULL ECOMMUNIQUE
Conference Of Nigerian Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA) has called on Nigerian Judicial commission NJC and EFCC to be mindful of the antics of Nigerian politicians; so as to redeem their seeming fading image and integrities. The persecution some Nigerians are through under EFCC must not continue under our watch.
Members of CNCRA as Human Rights Activists who had contributed in no small measure to the establishment of the present democratic structure need to speak the truth, we must speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored. We must begin to tell our leaders that under the local and international laws, we are all equal, we are born equal and the same. No longer shall we allow persecution of anybody by any of the government security agencies to go unchecked.
The CNCRA at its 2017 second board meeting held in Akure on the 10th of June 2017, condemned in strong terms the types of persecution EFCC has been carrying out in recent times
The CNCRA has in the last two weeks advised all its members across the country to attend court proceedings to monitor EFCC prosecutions. In adherence to this, on the 9th of June, 2017, the CNCRA attended a proceeding at court 3 of Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, to monitor a case of EFCC vs Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State. It was to our greatest apprehension that the case has lingered on for close to seven years. We were reliably informed by our source at the court that the suspect, OGD had entered his appearance for at least 40 times and up till the last adjournment, the EFCC was yet to close its case.
Apart from the fact that prolonged trial is a denial of justice, and that the right of the suspect is being infringed upon, it is an obvious waste of Nigeria’s scarce resources in the face of economic recession. It is a great surprise that a case that was opened in 2011 is yet to be determined, leaving us to ask, if the EFCC has actually established a prima facie case against the suspect who has been standing trial for the past six years.
In the course of our research and investigation, certain questions came to mind:
1. Was there credible petition either oral or written before the EFCC caused the arrest of the former governor?
2. Why did the EFCC virtually withdrawn all the 16 count charge in which the suspect was accused of stealing 58billion naira and replaced it by what we regard as spurious charges totaling 200million naira by the EFCC.
3. Why did the prosecutions amend the charges against the suspects three times?
4. Did the EFCC not having its facts before causing the arrest of the former governor?
5. Is it not indescribable and unreasonable for the EFCC to have asked for about ten adjournments despite that it initiated the trial?
6. Why is it that after over forty court appearances spanning seven years, prosecution are yet to close their case?
7. is it not shocking that on the EFCC was expected to close its case, (in the last adjournment) it came out with another 261 documentary evidence/exhibit of different kinds and topics as noticed by the defense counsel?
In the light of foregoing, will CNCRA be proved wrong if it declares that?
1. The EFCC has no cause to arrest the suspect in the first instance
2. That EFCC is acting a script of certain political figures which makes the whole prosecution a subterfuge,
3. That the EFCC is not genuinely fighting corruption as it would want to have us believe in this case,
4. The prosecution of the former governor is a mere persecution and political gimmick aimed at achieving some hidden agenda of certain people
5. The prosecution is no longer for the interest of the people of Ogun State and very unhealthy for Nigeria’s economy?
The CNCRA therefore, call on the chairman of EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Magu to call for the immediate discontinuation of the case forthwith if he wants to safe the integrity of the EFCC under his tenure.
IFEANYI ODILI,
Convener
Reported by Yemi Akintomide, Akure.
