NEWS 59
THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012
•Lawan
•Tambuwal
•Ogbeh
•Aturu
•Fasehun
•Osita
Fuel subsidy probe: Prosecute culprits now, Ogbeh, CNPP, Fasehun, others tell Jonathan P
ROMINENT Nigerians yesterday spoke with one voice, calling on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to immediately commence the process of thorough investigation and prosecution of all those indicted by the oil subsidy probe by the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan. Speaking to The Nation on phone, chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Chief Audu Ogbeh, said this is not the time for the president to show any sentiment but a time to do his duty both to Nigeria and the law. He warned that the country stands on the verge of economic collapse if he allows the mind-bogging discoveries to go “uninvestigated and unprosecuted”. The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) equally maintained that President Jonathan should without delay order the investigation and prosecution of the likes of Ahmadu Ali and others so indicted. National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said: “He must go deeper than what the House of Representatives has done. He must take action by ordering the investigation of anyone that has been indicted, no matter how highly placed. “And let me also say that if he fails to diligently prosecute them, he can be prosecuted for criminal negligence because the money in question can conveniently
Augustine AVWODE build three refineries of which if they were in place, there wouldn’t be any need to import fuel in the first place. So it is not a joking matter. “It is a big paradox. So, we expect him to sack and prosecute all those in power. I will say it is mandatory for him to recover all the looted monies involved in this subsidy scam. It is mandatory because if he fails, it will automatically be a referendum on his ability to fight corruption and his disposition to corrupt practices,” he said. Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) founder, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, urged the application of the law of the land in such a time as this. He insisted that the law should be made to take its course as far as all those indicted in the probe are concerned. In his words: “There are laws in the land and I expect that at a time such as this, they must be complied with. Once there are laws, there are bound to be crimes and once there is a crime, the person who commits the crime must face the law. And so all indicted persons should face the law and when that is done whatever is the prescription of the law must be applied”. He feared that the probe report could be killed, urging Nigerians not to allow it to be killed. According to him, all Nigerians are
involved and they must confront it together. “I have my fear that the report would be the target of people who don’t want it to see the light of day. But Nigerians should not allow it. We are all involved in the war on corruption, let us all confront it together”, he admonished. Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Fred Agbaje, posited that the fuel subsidy report is an albatross in the neck of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He argued that this is a singular case that will test the resolve and preparedness or commitment of the Jonathan administration to fighting corruption in the country. “The government by now knows that this is a testy case both for the Jonathan administration and the PDP. It will show the sincerity of the administration and its commitment to fighting corruption; it would show whether he is ready and able to step on the toes of those who have shared our commonwealth and oil deposit among them and their children unborn. “If Jonathan fails to implement to the letter, the report of the House committee, then good night to the fight against corruption in Nigeria; nobody should be spared among those indicted, whether they sponsored his election or campaign or not. Nigeria is bigger than any individual. There should be
•Agbaje no parochial or political consideration. “Though, I have my fear that they would want to kill it, but if they do, any attempt to do that will amount to shooting both the Jonathan administration and the PDP on the foot,” he declared. Also yesterday, Lagos lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, said the government is not serious about the fight against corruption. Nevertheless, he urged Nigerians to brace up and ensure that this particular fight is seen to a logical end by all means necessary because a group of people cannot hold them to ransom. He urged the media not to relent on its investigative work, saying attention should be focused on all segments of the society, the lawyers who just go to court to ask for adjournment and the judges who are soiling their hands. “And if nothing is done, there should be massive protests. If Nigeria doesn’t win the war, the country is finished; we can’t allow this to continue, the rot is too much”, he declared.