Yari should be prosecuted, after forfeiting embezzled money, SANs, others tell FG
Prominent senior lawyers and civil rights groups have said the anti-corruption war of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is not only marked by double standard, but has also been abandoned.
The senior lawyers and groups, including Mr Femi Falana, Chief Mike Ozekhome and the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, who spoke to The PUNCH specifically condemned a court verdict on a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja had on January 16 ordered the final forfeiture of N700m linked to Yari.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission had claimed that Yari kept the funds in accounts in banks, using his two companies, Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B. T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
In her judgment, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, held that Yari could not prove how he got the funds while or before serving as governor of Zamfara State between May 29, 2011, and May 29, 2019.
But unlike a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye and Rev Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who were handed various terms of imprisonment, the FHC ordered forfeiture of funds linked to Yari.
Ozekhome, SAN, in his comment stated, “I’ve always insisted that the anti-graft war by the Buhari government is not applied in an even-handed way and manner. It is most selective, opaque and lacks integrity. It is therefore outright corrupt.
“When you use corruption to fight corruption, you can never win. That is why Transparency International in its latest corruption index rates Nigeria even more corrupt than its 2020 rating. And as usual, government megaphones and hirelings always kick.
“In their myopic estimation, corruption starts and ends with the giving of bribe or stealing public money. They cannot appreciate that corruption is worse when you are selective, dispenses political favours, appointments in a nepotic, sectional , prebendalistic and cronystic manner.
“They can’t understand that corruption is encouraged and nurtured when you jail Joshua Dariye, Jolly Nyame, Ngilari and insist on re-arranging and trying Orji Uzor Kalu who had been discharged by the Supreme Court.”
He wondered why Yari was asked to refund money and allow to go home scot-free without any punitive consequences
On his part, Falana said the Federal Government was frustrating anti-graft war.
He said, “Since 2003, former governors and former ministers indicted for corruption and money laundering were charged before the courts by the anti-graft agencies. The cases of former governors Dariye and Jolly Nyame which commenced in 2007 were inherited by the Buhari administration.
“Orji Kalu’s (ex-Abia State governor) case also commenced in 2007. He has been charged de novo based on the orders of the Supreme Court.
“But in 2019, no ex governor was charged with graft offences even though they lost their immunity. No ex-minister was charged with corrupt practices. The Federal Government has quietly halted the war against corruption.
“Hence, indicted public officers are now being asked to forfeit part of their loot and sin no more. From the information at my disposal, investigators and prosecutors attached to the anti-graft agencies have been completely frustrated.
“In fact, the regime has sent some of them on indefinite suspension for embarrassing some highly influential corrupt elements.
A former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Mr Malachy Ugwummadu, said he was not surprised. Punch
