Date Published: 09/20/09
20th September, 2009 Press Statement
Ibori and Associates: For How long will the President Play the Ostrich?
It is said that if a thief is not ashamed his relations should not be inured and that is why Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG)is asking President Yar'Adua a question similar to what Obasanjo asked him in 2007: "Umoru, are you in charge?"
We have asked this question in view of the shameful conduct of the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN)in futhering the interest of serving and ex-government officials accused of corruption with learnings to the Presidency. More than any other character since 1960, Mr. Aondoakaa has desecrated the office of the number one law officer with his reckless service to corrupt people.
The AGF irresponsible conduct peaked recently when he consistuted himself to a law court and cleared 3 ex-governors of money laundry charges.In the process he presented a forged evidence of clearance which was swiftly disowned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As if that was not enough, he has been reported to have frustrated the EFCC from cooperating with the London Metropolitan Police in the prosecution of Ibori and associates whcih opened in London on 21st September, 2007. All of the 25 witnesses lined-up by the EFCC could not leave Nigeria because Mr. Aondoakaa is protecting Ibori and co from justice.
Unfortunately, Mr. President has continued to bury his head in the sand and thinks because he sees nobody , then nobody is seeing him. But not so, Nigerians can read clearly that a President who ordered security agents to go after bank's borrowers cannot find his voice now that it is political looters.Does it not worry him that investigations into Siemens and Halliburton bribery scandals have died a natural death? Is he comfortable that under him, looters sew ' Aso Ebi' for their supporters to follow them to Court? What does he think when people accused of corruption share his dinner table, mount the podium with him and one of them even opens all his mails? Is the protection of looters his 8th point agendum?
To answer the last question in the negative, the President must sack Aondoakaa immediately and order the Justice Ministry to co-operate with the Metropolitan Police on the Ibori and associates trial in compliance with the provision of Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement between Nigeria and United Kingdom (UK).
Yinka Odumakin
National Publicity SecretaryAfenifere Renewal Group (ARG).
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me".
- Pastor Martin Niemöller
