The Directorate of States Services, DSS, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, the Economic and the Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Nigerians will not forget the trimester of this year in a hurry. These security and anti-graft agencies of the Federal Government, which had thrived on media trials of suspects lost four out of five cases in open courts.
The losses prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to draft the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who was once an Attorney General of Lagos State, to help halt further damage to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight.
The EFCC lost its cases against Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on account of the N75 million money found in his account paid him by Governor Ayodele Fayose as legal fees. It also lost its bid to block the $5.9m lodged in the account of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Both were lost for lack of convincing evidence.
The DSS which had, in October 2016, raided the residences of some judges and arraigned them for prosecution on allegations of corruption also lost its case against Justice Adeniyi Ademola in a case prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which we consider a serious embarrassment to the Federal Government.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, capped the show of unenviable performance by losing a case against Elder Godsday Orubebe, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, charged with failure to execute a contract for the East-West Road in Eket and embezzling N1.97bn. The ICPC withdrew the case after sheepishly admitting that the funds were never released to Orubebe by the Federal Government.
These unfortunate losses strengthened the hands of those who have accused government of witch-hunt. Either by accident or design, these individuals were linked to the Jonathan regime or perceived to have acted in their defence.
The uneventful manner in which these cases were lost is not a good idea of what a serious anti-graft war is all about. It casts doubts on the Buhari regime’s preparedness and ability to fight it to a logical conclusion. There can be no serious anti-graft war without diligent prosecution.
Diligent prosecution requires tenacity of purpose, close attention to evidence gathering, assemblage of credible witnesses as well as deployment of committed and experienced prosecutors. Anti-graft war is a serious. It is not mere theatrical show and media hype which have been the hallmarks of our anti-graft efforts since the days of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
It is, however, gladdening to note that President Buhari is beginning to spread the sweep of the war to elements within his government. We urge him to ensure unbiased probes. This will renew the hope and expectations of Nigerians that the anti-graft war will be fought without fear or favour to logical conclusions.
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