Members of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Thursday expressed grave displeasure over the alleged impunity being perpetuated in the dispensation of justice in the country.
The lawmakers who expressed the concerns during plenary session, specifically frowned at the roles played by Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice & Attorney General of the Federation as well as Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the corruption allegations leveled against Danladi Umar, chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
This resolution followed a motion entitled ‘Need to ensure sanity in the administration of justice system in the fight against corruption in Nigeria,’ sponsored by Yakubu Barde, Deputy Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the motion include: Mohammed Munguno (APC-Borno); Razak Atunwa (APC-Kwara); Aliyu Pategi (APC-Kwara); Sadiq Ibrahim and Gabriel Onyenweife frowned at the level of interference in the dispensation of justice in th country and the need to take deliberate steps in checkmating it.
In his lead debate, Barde who underscored the indispensable roles of the AGF, EFCC Chairman and CCT Chairman in the fight against corruption, decried the “recent turn of events whereby the CCT chairman has been charged with two count charges of corruption before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by the EFCC.”
He noted that the “same EFCC and Attorney General had previously cleared the said Danladi Umar of the very same allegations that forms the basis of the two counts.
“The same EFCC and Attorney General is prosecuting cases before the same CCT which Danladi Umar sits as chairman.
“The fact that EFCC had previously issued a statement absolving Justice Danladi Umar of any wrong doing and is now being charged and asked to try the Senate president with the tendency to give an impression that a game is being arranged to meet certain predetermined result portraying the country’s legal system as capable of being manipulated should be of great concern to everyone.
“Any possible convictions or findings which the CCT may make from the same Danladi Umar being charged, may be rendered null and void by the court of Appeal and thereby frustrating the course of Justices”, Barde (PDP-Kaduna) lamented.
He further observed the Attorney General of the Federation was instrumental to the unwholesome saga playing out in the administration of justice system of the country.
In his remarks, Aliyu Pategi (APC-Kwara) said that the case against the Senate President was an instance of political manipulation.
He alleged that “EFCC and CCT are political tools used by the present Government to witch hunt perceived enemies.”
contribution, Hon Hamman Patigi (APC, Kwara), described the trial of the Senate President by the CCT as a case of “political victimisatiom” by the Executive arm of Government for allowing Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a Peoples Democratic Party member to emerge as deputy senate president.
He said: “If the chairman of the National Assembly could be harassed by government, it means there is no hope for the common man.
“This is the first time that the tribunal case will be appealed. It is purely politics. It is manipulation. We as a House should rise to the occassion.
“The EFCC and CCT are political tools used by the present administration to haunt those that they don’t like,” Pategi said.
While speaking, Rasaq Atunwa who doubles as Chairman, House Committee on Justice said: “The shenanigans and intrigues in the CCT and the trial of the Senate president is laughable. No doubt there is a connivance between the AGF and the EFCC against the Senate President,” he added.
On his part, Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), “The presumption of innocence gives the judge the right to go ahead in prescribing over the matter”.
To this end the House mandated the Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Aminu Shehu Shagari to interact with the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure that sanity is restored in the system.
