Jonathan has been severally linked to the indiscriminate
distribution of the public fund by most of the culprits alleging that he gave
arbitrary approval and masterminded the diversion of the funds from the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,
Femi Adesina, he said that the anti-corruption drive of the President Mohammadu
Buhari administration is non-exclusive implying that the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC and other statutory agencies are at liberty to conduct
its operations according to the laws of the land without fear or favour.
Emphatically, Adesina stated that the President does not condone any form of
corruption and therefore cannot shield anyone culpable from prosecution.
Earlier on Thursday, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume had
demanded from President Buhari for a directive to the EFCC to include the
former President in its lists of those facing prosecution over the arms deal in
view of equity and justice.
Ndume added that to prosecute the ex-National Security
Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and other accomplices including the National
Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Chief Olisa Metu but
left the arrowhead untouched is tantamount tom injustice.
“I do not want to dabble into that, being one of the victims
of the insurgency. My house was taken over by insurgents and my town was
declared a caliphate of the insurgents. My Emir was killed while these people
were laughing all the way to the banks with the money that was meant to buy
arms and ammunition.
“It was for lack of ammunition that the Nigerian Armed Forces
had to run away. As far as I am concerned, these people are living on blood
money; the blood of so many innocent citizens of this country particularly from
the North-East.
“No justice is too much for them; nobody is supposed to be
spared because the case is judicial and I am not a lawyer to determine who
should be brought to book. What I am saying is that justice should be served.
“Over 10,000 people have lost their lives. At one time, you
could see my people were slaughtered like chickens and the reason why this
happened was because our Army was not equipped and not well kitted. Somebody
made away with the money meant for the procurement of arms and ammunitions.
“I am not defending President Jonathan but he approved that
this money be used for procurement of arms. If the President approved that
money in the name of buying arms while giving a directive that it should be
shared among his cronies, then he should face the law.
“Nobody is above the law. If Jonathan is a culprit, he should
face the law. If there is evidence that the former President should face the
law, then, he should. After all, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty”,
Ndume said.
In a similar vein, an eminent constitutional lawyer,
Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) who is also the Chairman, Presidential Advisory
Committee Against Corruption stated yesterday that the EFCC under the law that
set it up does not require directives from the Presidency to carry on its
duties irrespective of the personality involved. He however noted that due to
the sensitivity of the matter putting into consideration the office the culprit
occupied, the anti-graft body may need such directive.
“The law is clear. There is no such limitation on the part of
the EFCC under the EFCC Act. If anyone has committed any offence relating to
economic and financial crimes, such a person can be investigated and if there
is evidence, the person can be prosecuted. The law is clear that no presidential
permission is needed.
“But we are talking of a former head of state here and I
think it will be extremely imprudent of the EFCC to just go and knock on his
door and detain him. Definitely, it is my personal view that there is a
protocol. My personal view is that the EFCC will need clearance if the
commission needs to arrest the former President”, Sagay said.
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