Opinion I On EFCC's Immunity To Probe States

ON EFCC’s IMMUNITY TO PROBE STATES

         

I ran into an old time friend, Musa recently during a professional conference that held in Jos, Plateau State. Amid our numerous conversations pertaining to politics and governance, he said he had learnt that at the moment various states’ legislators in Nigeria were merely aides to their respective governors.

       

Consequently, the fellow who resides abroad opined that the various law enforcement agencies in the country needn’t wait till a whistle is blown by such set of politicians before scrutinizing a sitting governor’s activities. In my candid response, I told him that my only fear and worry remained the fact that even the said enforcement agents could be pocketed by the states’ number one citizens, especially in situations where their statutory services are mostly needed.

       

It seems as if we foresaw what would be ruled soonest by a judicial council domiciled in the country. It’s not anymore news that penultimate week, precisely on Tuesday 30^th January 2018, a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State declared that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could not probe states’ finances without a report of indictment from states’ Houses of Assembly.

       

The ruling was informed by a suit filed by the Ekiti State Government via its Attorney General against the EFCC, Inspector General of Police, the state’s Assembly Speaker and Clerk, Chairman of the state’s Universal Basic Education Board, as well as its Auditor General and Accountant General. Various financial institutions in the state were equally among the defendants.

        

The aforesaid suit was filed in reaction to invitation letters sent by the anti-graft commission to a few government officials in the state, seeking details of some of the state’s financial transactions. It’s also of note that the EFCC reportedly extended the gesture to the affected banks, requesting financial books of the state in their custody. It’s noteworthy that the government in question had earlier written the banks, urging them not to oblige the commission with the requested information.

       

The court presided over by Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo added that the banks weren’t entitled to adhere to such instruction. It further held that the EFCC lacked the immunity to usurp the oversight functions vested in states’ legislatures under Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to initiate a probe or criminal proceedings against a state official when need be. It thus stated that only states’ Assembly was immune with oversight and investigation roles over state finances, appropriation and implementation.

         

Justice Taiwo’s order was a clear way of telling Nigerians that the EFCC, among other similar law enforcement agencies, lack jurisdiction at the state level. It suffices to say that, by his declaration, the commission had been told to restrict its activities to only within the federal ambit, which signifies that only institutions or parastatals owned and managed by the Federal Government (FG) could be probed by the anti-graft body.

         

If such a declaration holds water or anything to go by, I’m afraid, it’s high time we scrapped the EFCC and its likes. Of course, I see no reason the existence of the commission ought to continue if it cannot extend its tentacles to the various states and local councils across the federation as the ongoing anti-corruption war progresses, because graft is undoubtedly ubiquitous.

        

It’s then needless to reiterate that by the judgement of the court, the judge had not just ridiculed the jurisdiction of the ‘almighty’ EFCC but had as well questioned the legality behind its establishment let alone day-to-day activity.

       

A curious person may then ask or would want to know if the Acts binding the commission are in conflict with the country’s constitution, because everyone is arguably not unaware that the body was primarily instituted to tackle financial crimes across the nooks and crannies of the federation irrespective of where the culpable individual is coming from. The cases of late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and James Ibori, former governors of Bayelsa and Delta states respectively, were obvious proof to this affirmation.

       

Waiting until a nod is received from, or whistle blown by, the state lawmakers simply implies that the revered EFCC is no longer a watchdog over public servants in the country as regards corruption. Similarly, opining that the legislators’ oversight function is enough to probe the state’s accounts was a colossal error and an overstatement. I wonder what else is expected of members of a legislature, in a state where the governor has abruptly become an emperor, than to continually act as instructed by the number one citizen.

          

However, I wouldn’t stop pondering over the reason the EFCC and other related agencies would think it wise to focus only on a few states whereas the country is currently made up of thirty six distinct states. Does it imply that graft, or corruption in general, is peculiar to a certain set of Nigerians or localities? For the sake of way forward, such a question doesn’t deserve to be ignored.

        

So, as the EFCC is headed for the Appeal Court to counter the judgement of the lower one having understood that the ruling was bizarre, unfounded and laughable, it must acknowledge that corruption is an ubiquitous societal cankerworm, hence the need to extend its proboscis to other territories that are more evil than its current preys. Think about it!    

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

 Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

 

Opinion I Reviewing OBJ's Epistle To PMB

REVIEWING OBJ’S EPISTLE TO PMB

        

I grew up to learn from my darling mum that the best way and manner to express your feelings towards someone was to write him or her. The amazon would invariably back-up the theory by saying, ‘if you intend to make your words seem stronger, present the letter in a hand-written form’. It appears, nowadays, open letters have inadvertently replaced the hand-written mode.

        

I woke up in the early morning of Wednesday, 24^th January 2018 to see an open epistle to President Muhammadu Buhari painstakingly written by erstwhile president, Olusegun obasanjo. It’s noteworthy that such an attitude has ostensibly become synonymous with the latter who perhaps comprehends that writing a sitting president is more powerful than engaging him on a one-on-one meeting.

        

I didn’t waste time to digest the 23-paragraph letter, which bore a matter of deep concern. The epistle was in summary mainly targeted to advise Mr. President not to seek re-election come 2019, having in a lengthy statement expressed that the Buhari-led administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed Nigerians.

        

The second paragraph of the epistle captioned that ‘lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality are very much with us today’. I could explicitly agree that there’s an element of fact in this clause even though it appears a bit contradictory.

        

Of course, proscribing the existence of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but harbouring the activities of the so-called herdsmen across the lengths and breadth of the federation is arguably enough reason for anyone to assert that this administration is an advocate of inequality; read my lips.

        

What could better be described as an inequality than a situation where some people were being massacred on a daily basis by their fellow citizens, yet the Presidency never considered it consequential to address the state of the nation; than a situation whereby the North-East rehabilitation is ongoing whilst that of Ogoni land, or Nimbo of Enugu, is yet to know its fate?

      

The fourth paragraph wholly stated that ‘our situation in the last decade or so had shown that we are not good enough at home’. This is equally true. Over the years, particularly in recent times, Nigeria has proven to the global community that she is always good in playing a leading role toward settling any socio-political crisis occurring in the Diaspora. But pathetically, she seems usually weak when it calls for handling issues happening within her territory. This is unequivocally an aberration.

       

The sixth paragraph of the letter opined that ‘the situation that made Nigerians to vote massively to get my brother Jonathan off the horse is playing itself out again’. I partly disagree with this perception. To the best of my knowledge, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was whisked out as the president of Nigeria mainly owing to his seeming weak approach towards tackling some prevailing societal issues like terrorism and corruption that were then the order of the day in the country.

       

I thus beg to disabuse Chief Obasanjo of the notion that terrorism and corruption had not been fought headlong since President Buhari assumed duty. The aforementioned cankerworms may have not been completely defeated by the present administration, it’s worth noting that a lot has really been achieved thus far.

       

For instance, initiation cum sustenance of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN), to check excesses among public servants as well as the lingered impunity of money lauders and fraudsters, respectively, are good reasons to fete cap for Buhari in the area of fighting corruption.

      

The open epistle also accused President Buhari of patronizing nepotism. I wholeheartedly concur. Mr. President’s appointments so far were clear indications of his excess love for a certain set of individuals or groups in the country, which is contrary to what is expected of a man meant to be a true nationalist.

       

Chief Obasanjo rounded off by appealing to the president to consider ‘a deserved rest at this point in time and at this age’ having reminded him of his current health status. Without mincing words, it is only a sycophant or selfish-minded individual that would encourage Buhari to seek for re-election. He needn’t be reminded that he truly deserves a holistic rest after May 29, 2019 to enable him function aptly as a statesman and patriotic Nigerian.

       

However, Nigerians – I in particular – expected the writer to commence such an epistle with an apology over his failure to tactically address the country’s economy while he was riding the horse. It’s only an insane person that would believe that power inability, substandard education and poor health services aren’t Nigeria’s major economic plight, yet the Obasanjo-led government never solved any of these despite the whooping funds expended on the menace. Isn’t it then ideal to tell Chief Obasanjo that the porous foundation he laid remains the prime reason the structure has refused to be solid?

       

Funnily enough, the Federal Government (FG) has reacted to the letter via the Information Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed, saying the former president may not have noticed the ‘numerous achievements’ of the current administration as a result of his tight schedule. One may wonder what kind of busy time would make a rational being not realize when his country is progressing socio-economically. Think about it!

 

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

 Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

           

 

ShortStory I Shocking U-Turn (II)

SHOCKING  U-TURN (II)

       As days unfolded, the 28-year-old engineer, Dubem who was his parents’ only male child alongside his 25-year-old fiancée Ebere – a psychologist – who was at the time serving her fatherland as the country’s academic custom requested, kept pondering over what could have informed the abrupt U-turn displayed by his father, Mr. Ike Ubochi.

        On his part, the maiden’s dad, Mr. Elu Okoro who had vowed never to approach the purportedly aggrieved man towards ascertaining the actual cause of his grievance, was ostensibly the bitterest creature on the mother Earth as the uncalled malice continued unabated.

        “Oh my God!” Mr. Ubochi’s wife, Nneka soliloquized as she was seated lonely on her matrimonial bed in the evening on a Friday. “Who has bewitched my husband?” She supplemented.

         “Nobody has bewitched your husband.” Mr. Ubochi who just returned from his private office responded as he walked into the room.

          He had aptly presumed what was troubling her mind, thus needn’t a soothsayer to expatiate her moment of anguish.

          Mrs. Nneka who was startled by the interruption, hurriedly looked up only to observe her hubby’s presence; it was about 5:00pm. “You are welcome.” She managed to utter, still seated on the bed.

         “Why are you eating up yourself over nothing?” Mr. Ubochi queried as he calmly dropped his briefcase on the bed.

           The mother of three looked up to him, surprised. “Over nothing..?” She argued.

        “Of course,” he said, stood still. “Is there any cause for alarm?”

        “Why are you saying this?” she roared. “A man who loves and adores a girl suddenly turned around and began behaving strangely.” she asserted, paused. “And you are here telling me there is no cause for alarm.”

         Mr. Ubochi tenderly sat closely to her. “So,” he uttered. “Do you want to know what prompted the sudden change?”

         Nneka fixed her gaze on his. “My dear husband,” she said. “I absolutely deserve to know why that innocent girl deserves such treatment.” She passionately opined.

       “Okay, if you must know,” quoth Mr. Ubochi. “That girl cannot marry my son because she is Osu.” He frankly notified, paused. “None of my children will settle down with an Osu.”

         An Osu in some parts of Igboland and its environs is one who is traditionally regarded as an outcast, thus does not deserve to associate with other members of his/her immediate or wider society let alone getting married to them.

         “Osu?” echoed Mrs. Nneka who had been a pious woman as regards Christianity.

         “Yes, if you must know.”

           She abruptly felt disappointed. “So this is all about Osu, right?”

         “You don’t believe in Osu?’ He verified, became marvelled.

         “If you were not my husband, I would have walked out on you right now.” she informed with alacrity. “How can someone like you who always sit at the front of the church be talking about Osu at this twenty first century?”

          “Will you shut up, woman!” he ranted. “What do you know about tradition?”

          “It is even more appalling that you are a member of the knighthood.”

          “And so?” he argued. “What does the knighthood got to do with this?”

          Mrs. Nneka shook her head. “You amuse me, my dear husband.”

         “Me, amuse you?” he said, placing his right hand on his chest. “Woman, you better watch your tongue.”

          “Isn’t it clear that…” Nneka continued.

            Before she could land, Dubem who had been eavesdropping the conversation fiercely stepped into the room whose door was widely open except the curtain. “So dad, this is it right?” He roared as soon as he dashed in.

           The couple was startled. “This is what?’ Mr. Ike Ubochi managed to respond.

        “So, this is all about Osu?” Dubem supplemented.

          The couple, particularly the man of the house became mute, though Mrs. Nneka was apparently gladdened that the issue was no longer concealed.

        “So because of Osu,” Dubem proceeded. “You have been witch-hunting that poor girl?” he said, gesticulating. “That innocent girl, Ebere?” he added, still standing right before them.

          Mr. Ubochi remained speechless as he stylishly glanced at his wife who was still seated closely to him.

         “You have forgotten that you have two daughters who are yet to get married.” he furiously reminded. “So if you continue with this kind of belief, who would marry them?’

         “Will you shut up, Dubem?’ Mr. Ubochi interrupted fiercely. “How dare you put up such question before your father?” he said, paused. “So you have grown so wild, right?”

          “You caused it, dad,” replied the distressed dude. “You caused it.” He added in a jiffy.

          “Dubem, is okay.” his mum urged calmly. “You can excuse us.” She supplemented, looking strongly into his eyes.

           On hearing the motherly voice, he submissively looked at her, quickly turned his back on the couple and dashed out.

          “You see what you have caused?” Nneka reaffirmed, stylishly glancing at the man of the house.

          “Enough of this, please..!” Mr. Ubochi said frowning, stood up from the bed and dashed out too.

           Days later, Mr. Ike Ubochi was invited by his church’s priest on the subject matter. The clergy had been informed by Dubem who ran to him the following day after the altercation between him and his dad.

          “Sir Ike Ubochi,” the priest called as they were seated in his office.

          “Yes, pastor.” The knight responded.

          “It is annoying that after all we have preached in this church concerning the so-called Osu,” the Anglican priest rode on. “People like you are still talking about it.”

         “So pastor,” quoth the guest, surprised. “My son reported me to you?”

        “That is not the issue,” the priest countered. “If you were in his shoes, you would do the same.” he said, paused. “This is a very serious matter, sir Ike.”

         The guest became dumbfounded at this point, looking at the tiled floor.

        “Please, I don’t want to hear this again.” The clergy proceeded. “Go and reconcile with that innocent girl.” He enjoined succinctly.

          Weeks on as God would have it, Engr. Dubem Ubochi successfully led Miss Ebere Okoro down the aisle. Before this period, the father of the former had peacefully jettisoned all his charges against the latter having heeded the church’s counsel. It was conspicuously a moment of jubilation for both families.

         Years down the line, the couple remained happily married with promising kids.

         The rest is history, please.    

 

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

___________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador