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Resign Now!
Activists tell Attorney-General of the Federation
Newsdiaryonlione Thur
Feb 17,2011
Mohammed Bello Adoke, (SAN) Nigeria's minister of
Justice and Attorney -General of the Federation came under
intense pressure today as some civil rights activists and
anti -corruption crusaders called on him to resign.
The groups are not done yet. They are also insisting on
his prosecution for allegedly aiding and abetting corruption.The
allegations against the minister indeed question his
credibility and they represent a moral burden for anyone holding
such an otherwise exalted office.
But the Attorney -General of the federation who represented
President Goodluck Jonathan at a book launch today in Abuja
said the rule of law is the pillar of the regimes 's
anti-corruption war.
However the civil rights activist are not likely to be moved
as their widely circulated press statement is sure to put the
attorney general on the spot in the days and weeks ahead.
Below is the full text of the call for Adoke's prosecution:
CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE PROSECUTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
THE FEDERATION, BELLO ADOKE SAN FOR AIDING AND ABBETING
CORRUPTION:
TEXT OF A PRESS
CONFERENCE BY
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS
WORKING ON ANTI-CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
In February 2010,
the Nigerian Bar Association through its President, Mr. Rotimi
Akeredolu SAN, raised an alarm over attempts by the Federal
Government to sweep the
Halliburton scam under
the carpet. A year after the clarion call, it is distressful to
see Bello Adoke SAN, the
Attorney General of the
Federation and Justice Minister following the line of his
predecessor-in-office Chief Michael Aondoakaa who was unwilling
to prosecute public officials involved and was shown the way out
in circumstances that are dishonorable and disgraceful.
It is clear that
Bello Adoke SAN, has demonstrated a total lack of commitment to
the anti-corruption war and has aligned himself with the
conspiracy to continue the cover-up. It appears as if Mr. Adoke
SAN, has suddenly become one of the richest sitting Ministers of
Justice in the contemporary world today, with a level of wealth
comparable only to those of the oil czars. We do not know the
mystery behind his vast riches but we know that since coming
into office:
1)
AGF Bello Adoke SAN has
flagrantly violated sections 15(5) and 174 (3) of the 1999
Constitution when he set
out to withdraw several cases on economic crimes against the
public interest. We note in particular the case of the Vaswani
Brothers whom EFCC was bent on prosecuting for multi-billion
naira tax
evasion and forgery; his morbid deal with former
Governor of
Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu
to stop his prosecution; withdrawal of charges and return of
recovered stolen funds to former National Electricity Regulatory
Commissioners; assurances of safe landing for Dele Oye and
Akingbola’s return from criminally self-imposed exile; the trial
of Chief Kenny Martins handled by Festus Keyamo, for embezzling
Police Equipment Funds was profanely halted by the AGF; so also
was the trial of
Julius Berger, Siemens
Plc., Saipem, Technip and Halliburton Inc.; the attempt to stop
the criminal trial of the Anosikes (Daily
Times N3Billion scam), was resisted by a brave
Trial Judge who actually overruled the AGF when he applied for a
withdrawal of the charges on the ground that it was not in the
public interest to do so. Within his ten months of being in
office, the AGF has an all-time record of over 25 cases
withdrawn by him against corrupt persons with a high political
profile.
2)
When EFCC published an
advisory list of corrupt politicians, AGF Adoke in his
characteristic unpatriotic posture, issued EFCC a stern warning
notice not to embarrass the Federal Government.
3)
On Monday 14th
Feb., 2011 AGF Adoke appeared before the Senate Committee on
Judiciary to defend the Ministry’s budget, and he insulted the
Nation when he said that only $21 Million was given as bribe to
Nigerian Government officials in the Halliburton scam and that
the $170.8 Million disgorged and paid by the Halliburton crime
suspects as levies under a
plea bargain arrangement
will not be part of government revenue. The question is into
whose pocket is he putting the money.
4)
It is clear to all that the
Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended which his
boss,
President Goodluck Jonathan swore to uphold in his
oath of allegiance and
oath of office, to
discharge his duties “faithfully and in accordance with the
Constitution and the law and always in the interest of the
sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well being and prosperity of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”, has now been put in abeyance
by the many deliberate acts of malfeasance by AGF Adoke.
5)
Section 15(5) of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which stipulates
that “the State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse
of power” has been rendered un-operational, as people in
power sap the nation’s economic strength through corrupt acts.
It is regrettable
that at a time in which serious minded nations are holding
business firms accountable for unethical practices and
prosecuting them for abuse of public trust, an individual
occupying an office which should be at the forefront of
prosecuting acts of corruption has made it a practice to make
excuses for corrupt people and practices and trivialize serious
corruption matters by explaining them away, thereby insulting
the sensibilities of Nigerians and making us a laughing stock
within the international community.
Our demands;
1.
We call on the Senate and
House of
Representatives to immediately set up a
public Hearing and inquiry into Halliburton funds scam in order
to stop the AGF and other collaborators from further
scandalizing our dear country by his various acts of infamy.
2.
We call for the immediate
resignation of the AGF Adoke SAN from office for his desecration
of the exalted office.
3.
We demand for the immediate
prosecution of AGF Adoke for corrupt enrichment and gross abuse
of a public office.
4.
We call on the National
Assembly to amend all relevant laws to strengthen Anticorruption
Agencies to position them to take more proactive actions on
clear cases of massive public corruption.
5.
We call on the National
Assembly to ensure effective oversight on all the
Anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.
6.
We call on President Goodluck
Jonathan to categorically dissociate himself from the
pro-corruption stance of his AGF.
7.
We call on the general public
to rise up and ensure that corruption and corrupt leaders are
not tolerated and are removed from offices that embody public
trust.
8.
We call on Civil Society
Groups and the Media to ensure that the issue of corruption
remains in the front burner during the campaign for elections
and candidates are compelled to issue categorical statements on
what they would do about corruption if elected.
9.
We call on the International
Community to impose travel sanctions on all public officials
implicated in corrupt practices.
10.
We call on the judiciary to be
more patriotic and assertive in the performance of their
constitutional responsibilities.
11.
We Call on the Anticorruption
institutions in
Nigeria to demonstrate
more commitment and refused to yield to the intimidation and
manipulation by the political class.
Signed:
1.
ZERO-CORRUPTION COALITION
2.
CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCACY CENTRE(CISLAC)
3.
WEST AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY
FORUM
4.
CENTRE FOR DEMOCRACY AND
DEVELOPMENT
5.
WOMEN IN NIGERIA
6.
PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY
7.
TRANSPARENCY IN NIGERIA
8.
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
9.
Centre for the Development of Civil Society (CDCS)
10.
NATIONAL PROCUREMENT WATCH
PLATFORM (NPWP)
February 17TH
2011
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