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RE: PRESIDENCY CLEARS CUSTOMS C.G.:
MY REACTION
I just read with amusement the story
carried as a lead report in the
Nigerian Compass on
Sunday, October 4th, 2009,
titled “Presidency Clears Customs C.G.”.
The report is not only false, it is
deliberately concocted by some desperate
elements intent at a grand cover-up,
and it is designed to deceive the
Nigerian public. The said report flies
in the face of the following facts:
1.
It is extremely ridiculous to suggest
that an investigation of an allegation
can be carried out without calling on
the accuser to substantiate the
allegations. Till date, the Presidency
has not directed any of its security
agencies to investigate the allegations
and as such Mr. Olajide Ibrahim (the
complainant) and myself have not been
invited for any clarification.
2.
The Presidency or any law-enforcement
agency have not issued any formal
statement clearing the Customs C.G or
even stating that an investigation is
been carried out.
3.
In any case, and in specific terms, the
Presidency should tell the whole world
what its findings are regarding the
following:
i.
WAEC Certificate No. 37836D allegedly
obtained by Dikko in 1980 from the
Government College Kaduna. Does that
Certificate belong to him?
ii.
Certificate No. 10912 and 10993
allegedly obtained from the Nigerian
Institute of Management (NIM) in 1995.
Does NIM have records of these
certificates belonging to Alh. Dikko?
iii.
What are the findings regarding the
Higher Institute of Finance and
Economics that Dikko claims to have
attended in Bulgaria?
4.
On the alleged “discrepancies” in the
Affidavits sworn to by Olajide Ibrahim,
nothing can be farther from the truth
for the following reasons:
I.
Olajide Ibrahim stated clearly that
he was undergoing his NYSC programme in
1995 at the NIM when he first met Alh.
Dikko. It is therefore nonsensical to
think that NIM will have his name among
their staff list when he was just a
youth corper there at that time. In any
case, Alh. Dikko has not denied knowing
Olajide Ibrahim for about 14 years now.
Where did Dikko meet him
II.
The fact that Olajide Ibrahim’s address
changed between 2006 and 2009 is no
issue at all as he confirmed that he has
since gone into hiding after the
harassment by Dikko began..
III.
In respect of the so-called letter of
apology earlier written by Olajide
Ibrahim, assuming (without conceding) he
wrote those letters, what is the
probative value of such letters written
in periods he was supposed to be
handcuffed and leg-chained in detention?
In the final analysis, let me remind the
press that it has a constitutional and
God-given role to play in the fight
against corruption in public office. We
all suffer eventually when we cover such
corrupt practices in high places. It has
become so difficult to fight corruption
in our country because the empire of
corruption is spreading fast and is
consuming everyone in all sectors. Let
the Press steer clear of corrupt
practices. I am, for instance, appalled
that when it was reported that Alh.
Dikko seized and burnt 2000 copies of
The Premier magazine some two
weeks ago, the Press either blacked it
out or down-played it in many cases. May
God help us!
But despite the attacks and
discouragements I face, I will continue
to stand tall in exposing cases of
corruption anywhere I find them.
Thank you.
FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.
Keyamo's press statement was written on
Sunday October 4,2009
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