Date Published: 12/24/09
Anti-Graft: Group warns against politicizing Bafarawa's trial
A pro-transparency and development focused non-governmental organization Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) is worried that political loyalists of erstwhile Governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Bafarawa are politicizing his ongoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged anti-graft offences.
Because of the negative impacts of the politicization of the anti-graft trial of former Governor Bafarawa by his friends on Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade, the Rights group has cautioned that the court of competent jurisdiction be allowed to exercise her judicial independence in reaching a constitutionally allowed determination of the matter.
In a statement, the group through its national coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko asserted that rather than support the ongoing fight to rid the nation of corruption because of the adverse consequences the vice has unleashed on Nigeria’s economy, politicians are playing to the political gallery with the ongoing trial of erstwhile Governor Attahiru Bafarawa.
The group which advocated fair trial of former governor Bafarawa in compliance with section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution also advised supporters of the embattled politician to provide legal support instead of politicizing the subsisting court case filed by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) against Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.
Citing section 6 of the 1999 Constitution which grants the courts the judicial powers in the country, the rights group advised politicians to repose their hope in the courts of competent jurisdiction even as it advised the courts to maintain its independence and guard against political interference because of the critical constitutional role the court is meant to play in wiping away corruption from the face of Nigeria.
“We note with dissatisfaction, the distasteful way political loyalists of Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa are politicizing the anti-graft trial of their leader for alleged anti-graft offences. As a human rights platform, we strongly condemn the political sentiments raised by some political supporters of the former Governor to score a lot of mileage.”
Huriwa also stressed that “We agreed with the opinion of experts that corruption at the level of the state which has a dominant role in the allocation of resources to various groups and individuals cannot but lead to the frustration of people who have been cheated of their entitlement. This will ultimately undermine productive efficiency of talented personnel.”
Huriwa said it was shocked that rather than allow their political leader to defend himself against the allegation of theft of N15 Billion before the competent court of law, supporters of Alhaji Bafarawa are raising eye brows and alleging political witch hunt when it is clear that both the courts and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are independent institutions created by extant statutes of Nigeria.
“We must not seek to desecrate, derail or scuttle the ongoing crusade against all traces of corruption in Nigeria because millions of Nigerians are impoverished and living below the global index of absolute poverty because of corruption by political office holders”, huriwa said |
