Reading through the article, a triangular conspiracy by one Ifeatu Dickson in The Sun of Thursday, April 4, 2013, I could not but wonder what the combination of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Sokoto State Government are up to in their dealings with Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the former Governor of Sokoto State.
It is obvious from the article in question that Bafarawa is being persecuted by a combination of forces for his principled stand on issues of governance and accountability. But if I can understand the problem of the Aliyu Wamakko led government of Sokoto State with Bafarawa, I cannot understand why the AGF and the EFCC are involved in the game plan if not to say that they have become willing accomplices in the hands of the Sokoto State Government.
Let us look at the case of Mohammed Adoke, the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice. From the article under reference, I was able to understand that Bafarawa expressed worry over the fact that he was being tried unfairly in a State High Court where his accuser and prosecutor are in charge. He knows too well that he cannot get justice from such a court. As a believer in the rule of law and the respected principles of democracy, Bafarawa drew the attention of the Attorney General to this anomaly.
Again, from my understanding of where the case stands now, the Attorney General has not deemed it fit to respond to Bafarawa’s petition. I consider the disposition of the Attorney General unbecoming of the chief law officer of the federation. His job is to ensure that the cause of justice is served. He is a servant of the people and should always rise to the occasion when situations demand. In the case of Bafarawa, situation demands that he addresses the worry and anxiety of a Nigeria citizen which is what Bafarawa is. Adoke owes Bafarawa and every other Nigeria a duty to ensure that the law which is supposed to protect them does not become a problem to them.
It really beats the imagination that Adoke ignored Bafarawaís entreaties. Is that how a public office holder should treat issues that concern the citizens of the country? If Adoke cannot address issues of impropriety, illegality and abuse of court process, then I wonder what he is in office to do. Besides, courtesy and good breeding demand that Adoke responds to Bafarawaís petition. Even if he will an up not meeting Bafarawaís request, he ought to treat it according to its own merit. But to remain silent and treat the matter as if it does not exist is most disdainful. It does not portray the Attorney General as one who has respect for the citizens and the laws of the land.
This is most reprehensible. If Bafarawa, a former governor and a former presidential candidate who, by every standard, is a prominent Nigerian can be treated this way, then you can imagine what less privileged Nigerians will get in the hands of those who are supposed to protect them through the instrumentality of the law. The unbecoming attitude of the Attorney General should be of interest to the human rights community in Nigeria. They should ask Adoke why a free citizen of Nigeria should be subjected to the conspiracy of silence from the office of the Attorney General.
They should ask him why Bafarawa should be the only ex-governor being tried in a State High Court instead of federal courts where others are being tried. They should find out from Adoke if there is anything about Bafarawa’s case that demands that he must be differently treated. Indeed, Bafarawa is facing injustice and persecution in the hands of Adoke. Somebody should call our chief law officer to order. If we move away from the office of the Attorney General, we cannot but also raise questions about the role of the EFCC in all of this. Is the EFCC playing the on-looker in a case in which it is supposed to be actively involved? Is it just following the dictates of the AGF and Sokoto State Government?
Strictly speaking, Bafarawa is being tried because the EFCC preferred charges against him. But it is evident from what we know that the commission has been relying on the Sokoto State Government. The EFCC did not carry out an independent investigation. Instead, it relied on the information passed to it by the Wamakko Government. The EFCC, in a normal setting, ought to be fair and impartial in its dealings with accused persons. To be able to achieve this, it has to look beyond the content of petitions it receives on persons and institutions. In fact the petitions ought to be mere props. They are just what the commission needs to begin its work. But I am appalled that the EFCC, in the case of Bafarawa has done nothing other than to rely on the petition it received hook, line and sinker.
This is a lazy way to deal with serious issues of transparency and accountability. From the way the EFCC is going, it appears that it is not interested in diligent prosecution of the Bafarawa issue. It does not want to deal with the issue conscientiously. It is rather being teleguided by the Sokoto State Government. Otherwise, why will a strong anti-corruption agency like the EFCC be content with the shenanigan and manipulations of a state government. Indeed, when did the EFCC become so pliable? When did it become so directionless? This is really a worrisome development. At this juncture, I want to advise those in charge of government agencies to look beyond self. Public service is about the people.
The office of the Attorney General is not about Adoke. It is about the people of Nigeria. If Adoke must succeed in office, he must be seen to be serving the interest of the generality of Nigerians. If he becomes disdainful of the people he is supposed to serve, then he has failed. What he is doing at moment is not in the best interest of the institution he is serving. I urge him to have a rethink and look into Bafarawaís petition. Bafarawa is not asking to be let off the look without trial. He is asking for fair trial. And he can only get this if he is taken out of the court where his accuser is the prosecutor and the judge.
This is simple enough. Adoke should do the right thing by transferring Bafarawa’s case to a Federal High Court. As for Ibrahim Larmode, the Chairman of the EFCC, there is need for him to get out of his lethargy in this matter. He should assert his authority. He should take charge of his commission and resist external manipulation. As a seasoned hand in the operations of the EFCC, Larmode must avoid the open partiality of one of his predecessors, Nuhu Ribadu who was freely used by Olusegun Obasanjo to hunt his enemies, whether real or not. Ribaduís partiality was so brazen that by the time he was leaving office, Nigerians were no longer deceived by his holier than thou posturing. Nigerians knew he was pretending.
The case of Ribadu’s immediate successor, Farida Waziri, was no better. Nigerians could not understand her style. But what they could hold on to was her complacency. The EFCC went to sleep under her tenure. Larmode must avoid these ugly stories of his predecessors. He should be seen to be different. He should not allow himself to be used like Ribadu.
He should also not go to sleep like Waziri. He can use the Bafarawa issue to make a difference. Let him demonstrate that the commission can be independent. Let him prove that it cannot be manipulated. Nigeria and, indeed, the world are watching. Handel writes from Abuja