{"id":63982,"date":"2018-10-07T20:00:17","date_gmt":"2018-10-07T19:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=63982"},"modified":"2018-10-07T20:23:16","modified_gmt":"2018-10-07T19:23:16","slug":"serap-writes-buhari-seeks-speedy-trial-of-corrupt-past-governors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/serap-writes-buhari-seeks-speedy-trial-of-corrupt-past-governors\/","title":{"rendered":"SERAP writes Buhari, seeks speedy trial of corrupt past governors"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open<\/div>\n
\n
\n

letter to Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his \u201cgood offices and
\nleadership position to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and
\nMinister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN to without delay take over and
\nexpeditiously prosecute grand corruption cases involving all indicted
\nformer state governors and to prosecute indicted serving governors at the
\nexpiration of their tenure as governors.<\/p>\n

The organization said, \u201cthe trial of several former state governors
\naccused of corruption and money laundering have continued to linger in
\ndifferent high courts in the country. Some of the grand corruption cases
\ninvolving former governors started in 2007 are yet to properly commence.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the letter dated 5 October 2018 and signed by SERAP deputy director
\nTimothy Adewale, the organization said, \u201cWe are concerned that the
\ncontinuing delay in the prosecution of former governors suspected of
\ncommitting acts of grand corruption to logical conclusion has sent a
\nnegative message that the governors are untouchable. The delay is also
\ncontributing to perception among Nigerians that many of these influential
\nand powerful past governors are being protected by the power and political
\nset up.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the organization, \u201cinstructing the Attorney General of the
\nFederation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN to take over
\nand directly and expeditiously prosecute all cases of grand corruption
\ninvolving former governors, would be entirely consistent with his duties
\nunder the Constitution, and contribute to upholding the majesty of law and
\nvindicating the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The organization warned that, \u201cshould the Attorney General not take over
\nthe cases of corruption against all past corrupt governors as requested,
\nSERAP would, on account of the public interest involved, and to ensure
\nthat no further time is lost in the completion of these cases, consider
\nappropriate legal action to compel the authorities to discharge their
\nconstitutional duties, consistent with the basic tenet of the rule of law,
\nthe concept of equality and the cause of justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement read in part: \u201cthe continuing delay in the prosecution of
\nformer governors alleged to have committed acts of corruption is a
\nsignificant factor contributing to impunity of those engaging in grand
\ncorruption, thereby posing a serious threat to probity in public life, the
\nrule of law and respect for human rights. The delay in the prosecution of
\nformer governors who no longer enjoy constitutional immunity also suggests
\nthat they are above the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNigerians deserve to see the prosecution of all indicted former governors
\nto logical conclusion if your government is to demonstrate the credibility
\nof its commitment to combat grand corruption and eliminate any impression
\nof bias or lack of fairness in the fight against corruption. Everyone
\naccused of corruption should be brought to justice in accordance with the
\nlaw and irrespective of the height at which those involved are placed in
\nthe power and political set up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe delay also has serious implications for human rights because the lack
\nof effective prosecution of grand corruption cases involving former
\ngovernors has created the tendency among many serving governors to engage
\nin corruption, which would ultimately have deleterious effects on the
\nenjoyment of human rights including the rights to healthcare, water,
\nquality education and regular electricity supply.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSERAP believes that everyone against whom there is reasonable suspicion
\nof committing a crime of corruption has to be treated equally and
\nsimilarly under the law situation with a view in ensure proper
\nimplementation of the rule of law. This is the need of equality guaranteed
\nin the Nigerian Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe right to equality in a situation like the corruption cases involving
\nformer governors is that of the Nigerian polity and not merely of a few
\nindividuals. The Attorney General is constitutionally empowered to take
\nover and expeditiously prosecuted the cases against former governors to
\nensure justice and enforce the concept of equality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe continuing delay in the prosecution of former governors accused of
\ncorruption amounts to a fundamental breach of Nigeria\u2019s Constitution of
\n1999 (as amended) and the UN Convention against to which Nigeria is a
\nstate party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the 31 past governors accused of corruption are escaping justice,
\nsome of the cases dating back to 2003. \u201cThe Attorney General is a defender
\nof public interest and has the powers under Section 174(1) of the
\nConstitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), to institute and undertake
\ncriminal proceedings against anyone suspected to be responsible for acts
\nof corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe delay can no longer be justified. Unless there is proper prosecution
\nof indicted former governors, the effort made to investigate their cases
\nwould not bear fruition. Cases of corruption against high-ranking public
\nofficials, particularly all indicted former governors must be conducted
\nand completed expeditiously if the government is to retain public
\nconfidence in the impartiality of its fight against corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny taking over and prosecution of the grand corruption cases involving
\nformer governors should not dilute adherence to the essentials of a fair
\ntrial and the basic principles of our constitutional jurisprudence
\nincluding the presumption of innocence of the accused unless found guilty
\nat the end of the trial.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSERAP also notes that Governors control about 47 per cent of accruals to
\nthe Federation Account \u2013 both its own share and that of the local
\ngovernments. Also, the Attorney General once started that \u201cIt is the
\nposition of the present administration that these suspected governors must
\nbe prosecuted in line with the anti-corruption agenda of the government.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnding corruption by state governors would contribute to respect for
\nhuman rights including ensuring adequate medical and health facilities for
\nall persons in the country; which would help to protect the health of the
\npeople and ensure that they receive medical attention when they are sick.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his \u201cgood offices and leadership position to direct the Attorney General of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\nSERAP writes Buhari, seeks speedy trial of corrupt past governors - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/serap-writes-buhari-seeks-speedy-trial-of-corrupt-past-governors\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SERAP writes Buhari, seeks speedy trial of corrupt past governors - 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