TREASURY-LOOTING: Soyinka Blasts Critics, Urges FG Never To Relent

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has condemned the criticisms trailing the federal government over its intensive fight against corruption which he acknowledged is gathering momentum. He noted that corruption has incontrovertibly eaten deep into the shores of public officeholders against the helpless citizens, and therefore urged the federal government never to relent on its good job adding that this is the first time in the recent times such a fight against the dreadful epidemic could be manifestly adjudged serious and effectual in Nigeria.

Soyinka, who spoke to journalists emphatically, expressed his disappointment over the manner public funds were diverted and misappropriated by the previous administrations, particularly the $2.1 billion special fund earmarked for arms procurement at a critical moment insecurity was almost at uncontrollable stage in the country by irresponsible government officials and their associates.

He therefore enjoined the government to see it as a normal propaganda for culprits on corruption to fight back explaining that all over the world, at any time corruption is being fought, it would always lead to corruption fighting back; hence government should not be deterred over the attacks, criticisms and condemnations on its job. He personally pledged his support to the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

Several other notable Nigerians have at different occasions identified with the government’s anti-corruption drive in the country urging the President to do a thorough cleansing in the polity. It will be recalled that Mr. Femi Falana, SAN also recently urged the President to ignore all critics, instead to ensure that all suspects are brought to book and prosecuted accordingly.

President Buhari’s government has been under severe disparagement over his dogged fight against corruption particularly after his maiden Presidential Media Chat last year leading the opposition branding his government as dictatorial and authoritarianism. In the course of his response to a question over suspects’ fate after meeting respective bail conditions, but yet in custody, the President gave reasons why the prime suspect in the arms procurement fund, Col. Sambo Dasuki and Radio Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu would not be released despite the order of the court.

Notable members of the judiciary however frowned at such position stating that such disposition is an affront and indeed a mockery to the judiciary in a democratic setting.

“Court orders are made to be obeyed, if not, it becomes impunity. No matter the number of allegations against an accused person, once the matter has been charged before a competent court, that court assumes power to determine whether or not the person deserves bail,” a lawyer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.

However, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN who is also the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption elaborately expressed a dissenting opinion stating that the Federal Government was not in violation of the rule of law. In his opinion, “the way I see it is that any bail granted an accused, is completely related to the offence which he is charged before the court. So, if after he (the accused) has been granted bail and the prosecution discovers another offence for which no bail has been granted, then the accused can be re-arrested. So that cannot be in violation of a bail, which is in relation to an earlier stated offence.”

Hitherto, the culprits on corruption related matters have perfected the tactics of hiding under the cloak of legal technicalities to secure bails and thereby frustrate investigations, hence did not find it funny over the President’s disposition to ignore court orders knowing that it may no longer be business as usual.

However, the opinions of the citizens have been visibly divided on the development. While most fans of the former President Goodluck Jonathan passed votes of no confidence on the President over his Presidential Media Chat, a large number of the citizenry gave the president a clean bill.

According to Mr. Tochukwu Ihemadu, a Lagos resident who spoke to us, in his appraisal over the Presidential Media Chat gave it to the president stating that Nigerian’s targets on Buhari are aptly being actualized adding that Nigerians chiefly opted for Buhari for exactly what he is doing. Emphatically, he said that the President’s position, no doubt may be offensive vis-à-vis the principles of democracy,  hence not favourable to culprits, nevertheless, the President is on track adding that articulation and rhetoric were not among the reasons he was elected by Nigerians but strictly to bring sanity and restructure the system.