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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016
EDITORIAL EFCC AND THE RULE OF LAW The EFCC must act within the law at all times
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wo weeks ago, Justice Yusuf Haliru of the FCT High Court, sitting in Jabi, Abuja, had this to say about the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): “The EFCC is a creation of the law. The court will not allow it to act as if it is above the law. It is remarkable to note that the motto of the EFCC is that nobody is above the law, yet they are acting as if they are above the law. The EFCC Act is not superior to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The respondents in this matter have not behaved as if we are in a civilised society. They have behaved as if we are in a military dictatorship where they arrest and release persons at will.” The judge’s angry comment arose from EFCC’s serial disobedience to his order that Colonel Nicholas Ashinze, a former aide to the ex-National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who had been in detention since December 23, 2015 be released on bail on self-recognition. Rather than obey the court, the THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY commission transHAS BEEN FOUND ferred the suspect to TO COMPROMISE ITS a military detention TIME-HONOURED DUTY facility, claiming to OF ENSURING THAT have released him PROPRIETY BECOMES THE to his employer, the ORDER OF THE DAY IN THE Nigerian Army. Of ART OF GOVERNANCE course, Justice Haliru saw through the pranks and declared Ashinze’s detention as illegal, wrongful, unlawful and a blatant violation of his fundamental rights. Also last Wednesday, an Abuja High Court judge, Justice Peter Affen, berated the EFCC for allegedly intimidating his court. “This is not EFCC office. You must comport yourself. The problem is that you people (EFCC) have too much physical power and you carry it everywhere. This is not a motor park and you must not be throwing your hands anyhow. You owe the court a duty of defer-
Letters to the Editor
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ence. Leave your policeman or EFCC powers at the door. Didn’t they teach you that in Law School?” an angry Justice Affen asked the EFCC lawyer. To the extent that Nigeria is consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world and this affects not only the image of the country but hinders investment in our economy, we appreciate the fact that the EFCC is saddled with a most difficult assignment. However, we do not think their cause is being helped by the growing perception, especially coming from the bench, that the anti-graft agency has scant regard for the law.
T T H I S DAY
EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOlA BEllO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOlAfE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOlA BEllO, KAYODE KOMOlAfE, ISRAEl IWEGBU, EMMANUEl EfENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OlUfEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, fIDElIS ElEMA, MBAYIlAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOlA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD fEMI TOlUfASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
he disposition of the EFCC to court orders perhaps stems from the thinking that high profile suspects, who most often hire influential Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), tend to have their way with judges. Indeed, EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has publicly complained about the corrupting influence of some senior members of the bar on the bench, leading not only to the release of suspects on bail, but also to the frustration of cases through the grant of all manner of injunctions by the courts. We do agree that corruption is a cankerworm that is threatening to destroy our nation and must be fought with all that we have. Indeed, this newspaper has on many occasions underscored the challenges before the anti-graft body and has repeatedly called on the federal government to cater to its needs, including the provision of better funding and improved training and equipment that would upscale its capacity for investigation and prosecution of corruption cases. We have also called for a reform of the judiciary to rid it of bad eggs. But the EFCC must also, at all times, act within the law. By respecting the rights of suspects and complying fully with the orders of courts, it will be far easier for the EFCC to sustain and institutionalise the war against corruption for which, we dare say, the current leadership at the commission must be commended.
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A LETTER TO FATHER MBAKA
ongratulations on your transfer to Our Lady Parish (OLP), Emene, Enugu. Nobody wants you to suffer as you lamented. I see God’s hand in your transfer, to make you even greater. People have laughed at your transfer, but in five years’ time you will see what will happen to your ministry. Your transfer is God-inspired and you should accept it in good faith. After reading this letter you will see what I mean. Thank God and keep thanking him for all his mercies to you and your ministry. I know that you were among those that built Christ the King Parish (CKP), GRA, Enugu with 20 years of your youthful years, but I bet you, you can do more and surpass what you have done there. This is a strategic direction for the Adoration Prayer Ministry; I thank God for you and for this development. Emene to Enugu using the Enugu - Abakaliki - Ogoja - Ikom Mamfe express is about 25 minutes’ drive. This is an International gateway to Nigeria both by road and by air. What use can it be to your ministry? This should be about 10 minutes from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu. Anybody who can come to the Adoration Ministry in Enugu can conveniently and comfortably come to Our Lady Parish, Emene. If people want to fulfill their spiritual needs, they don’t mind going / visiting anywhere for it. In the alternative, buses could be provided to ferry faithful to Emene from Polo field. There will be challenges as you move to your new parish, but human beings face challenges. With the lessons learned from CKP, you will prosper and surpass your imagination. I will dwell on the strategic direction of OLP, if followed in five
years’ time, you may look for me. Emene is a virgin land yearning to be explored and developed. I know that land acquisition is not as expensive as other parts of Enugu; then Father here we go. You can replicate what is happening in the Lagos - Ibadan expressway with churches growing in leaps and bounds here in Emene if you get your act together, you will be happy coming to OLP. You alone with God can develop Emene; this is not a tall order. A critical look at Enugu shows that development is most likely going towards Emene as Udi has a topography problem; Nike isn’t an option; towards Garki seems to be tight, but Emene is the side that development will likely shift with its flat land. Remember Independence Layout Phase II, Enugu Airport and others are all development attracting projects. What can you do? You can have a farm, build a school, a hospital, a retreat centre, what have you. All in all, good planning is the key as some projects have multiplier effects that will attract others. Now you can think of doing other things, as Christ the King Parish, GRA, though in town may not have had adequate facilities like space for expansion and other things. Moreover, now there won’t be traffic hold-ups/jams obstructing the town and faithful /adorers will see place to park. The Adoration Prayer Ministry should have a plan to move forward, develop vision and mission statements and seek a strategic direction. Try develop a think- tank that will chart a direction for your ministry. Anthony Osondu, tonyosondu@yahoo.com
FOREX FOR NIGERIAN STUDENTS ABROAD
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n THISDAY Sunday Comment of March 20, it was stated that our president’s children study abroad. The president, the comment says, can afford to keep his children there. That’s very good news. Could our president please tell us his foreign bank accounts from where he pays their school fees and maintenance? Or can he give us evidence of the black market exchange he has done to pay his children’s school fees? For the sake of our nation, let us cherish our children as our heritage, both those at home and abroad. Parents sacrifice to educate their children so they can be greater than their parents and become assets to their nation and the world. I cannot place the thinking of government that these children studying abroad and their parents are not the concern of government! Please, the suffering of all citizens is the concern of a good government. I plead, for the love of our nation, let school fees being paid directly into school accounts in foreign countries for Nigerian students be done through the banks at official rates! Let the youth who shouted Sai Baba, Sai Buhari both at home and abroad be glad that they supported the call for “change” for the better. Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Dr. Cecilia Olayide Amotsuka, Medical Director, J-Rapha Hospital & Maternity, New Bodija, Ibadan