Spouting and mouthing the rule of law has become a cover and camouflage for impunity in
First were his very public utterances and pronouncements, in which he demanded obeisance from the EFCC which in led to an uproarious reactions from all segments of the Nigerian populations at home and abroad. What quickly followed was Mr. Andoakaa’s public squabbling with prosecutors from the EFCC, again, as is, customary with him, he in open court, engaged in a very public squabbles, quarrels and fights instead of inter departmental memos, emails or telephone calls or personal invitations to members of agencies of the federal government of
There is a consensus among Nigerians that corruption be fought most aggressively, most vigorously and rigorously . President YarAdua has repeatedly, and publicly committed himself to this consensus and purpose. The president has repeatedly re-dedicated himself to reforms, including the war against corruption. Inexplicably though, neither Mr. Kalu or Mr. Ibori have been doggedly pursued by prosecutors in Nigeria, except the EFCC, the EFCC which Mr. Andoaka overt actions and statements sent obvert and subliminal messages, regarding sacred cows who may not be made to account to Nigerians
Before Mr. Andoakaa became the AG, Nigerians knew about and wrote about and discussed the rule of law. The rule of law is nothing new! Mr. Andoakaa must be reminded that the rule of law and due process are fine legal ideals, principles and tenet of the law, which were not invented by him or by others, in the new political dispensation in
Presently, in the name of the rule law and due process, it has begun to look as if, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, is at this time enjoying an undeserved reprieve from prosecution and the law. He is allowed to continue to bask and revel in his, in-your-face attitude, with stolen wealth, in arrogance and unmitigated impunity! All this, even after a 107 federal charges were leveled against this same Mr. Kalu.
Now comes the Mr. Onanefe James Ibori the former governor of Delta State, the “almost-ex-convict”, who is alleged to have stashed millions of pound sterling in England including properties with values in hundred of millions pound sterling as well. According to published reports, the Attorney-General of our Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), personally wrote a letter in which he exonerated Mr. Ibori of any wrongdoings and therefore pushed the hands of a London court to defreeze and remove the embargo on Mr. Ibori’s assets. It will be recalled that the Southwark Crown Court in London had on Monday discharged a restraint order it granted on August 2 against Ibori, Erin Aviation and others, suspected of looting public treasuries in Nigeria
Nigeria’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, with a stroke of his pen, carte blanche, set Mr. Ibori and others in cahoots with him, free of money laundering in England and perhaps, the corrupt enrichment charge, that were clearly precursor to laundering money.
What motivated the AG to write that Mr. Ibori and his cohorts have no case to answer? Who does the AG work for, Nigerians or a cabal of thieves with affluence?
Why did the AG deny writing the letter which freed Mr. Ibori’s assets? Why did AG choose to hide under his polemically and semantically twisted difference between a letter to the Southwark Crown court, and a letter to Mr. Ibor’s lawyers, which a thinking AG would have known, or should have reasons to know, that such letter will invariably and inevitably end up being tendered in the Southwark Crown court and any other court on earth in defense of Mr. Ibori? The AG is dumb or disingenuous or both. How could he write a letter on behalf of
The AG continues to argue strenuously, that he has not done anything to frustrate corruption cases against
The AG is seeking to cloak and shield himself with legal technicalities and mumbo-jumbo relying on Fred Egbe vs. the State, the Supreme Court held that it was wrong to charge a person to court and then start to look for evidence. The fact is, Mr. Ibori and his cohorts, had assets that were seized, frozen or embargoed as unexplained wealth or product of money laundering. The AG should tell Nigerians the source of Mr. Ibori’s millions of pounds in cash and other assets in
There were good reasons to freeze Mr. Ibori’s assets in
The letter issued by the AG is perhaps not illegal, but it is clearly inappropriate, it is indeed, grossly inappropriate! It is comical to think that Mr. Andoakaa wrote that letter to defense counsel, so that Mr. Ibori can tender it before his dentist in
There are many actions in this world that are legal, but considered by all reasonable persons as highly inappropriate. Mr. Andoakaa has acted most inappropriately in this instance and many instances before this.
It is matter of public record and general knowledge, the fact that it has taken
, especially during the President Obasanjo years. Nigerians are you aware, or ought to be aware, that Nigeria’s efforts, met with all manners of “prosecutorial-blockade” every step of the way, to the extent that the former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was publicly critical and chastised some foreign governments for their Lackluster support for Nigeria’s loot-recoveries. These foreign government and their justice systems are perhaps informed by their self-interested delays in connection with Nigeria’s loot recovery efforts (capital flight is how they see it) when Nigeria money leave their countries upon being recovered
Nigeria’s AG just committed a huge blunder which favors Mr. Ibori and his cohorts, persons who can now distribute or sequester those stolen millions and efforts to re-trace them is now made more difficult, arduous or nearly impossible. Mr. Andoakaa is often sounding like a robot just spewing dogmatically, as he is repeating rule of law and justice, while
I know of no Nigerian going out to the street to dance in praise of rule of law and justice being alive and well in
Nigerians should demand that the AG explains why he issued the infamous letter to Mr. Ibori’s defenders, Ian Timlin (Partner) and Julie Thrower (Solicitor) counsel from a firm of City Dispute Resolution Solicitors, Speechly Bircham before reviewing the very public allegations against Mr. Ibori, allegations so public and notorious, this AG must be aware in both his personal and official capacity. Moreover, did the AG consult the EFCC and ICPC to determine or verify, whether or not, Mr. Ibori has no case to answer in
Is there any evidence that Mr. Andoakaa consulted or contacted Nigeria Police, EFCC and ICPC before issuing all-clear to Mr. Ibori lawyers, advantage Mr. Ibori? It can also be observed, that Mr. Andoakaa has been unusually efficient and speedy, in matters concerning Mr. Kalu and now, Mr. Ibori. Notice how quickly he responded to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers? How about some measure efficiency and speedy actions for poor Nigerians in detention without trial and are dying in decrepit prison conditions? Prison conditions in
The AG’s actions and words, are in direct conflict with President YarAdua’s stances against corruption, in fact, the AG’s actions and words measured against the president’s, are mutually exclusive opposites! Why is the president retaining this AG? The president should clear the air. The president should inform Nigerians where he stands on the AG
According to published reports, Mr. Andoakaa wrote an exculpatory letter to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers in
It is now incontrovertible that Mr. Andoakaa is not committed, dedicated and passionate about the hot-pursuit of
Notable public actions, utterances and pronouncements by Mr. Andoakaa have established him as a person , acting in collusion, connivance and in concert with elements, who do not have
Discerning and reasonable Nigerians have therefore come to the conclusion that Mr. Andoakaa is a disservice to
Mr. Andoakaa must go!
