In his article titled “The days of the ‘Cabal’ (1) published in THISDAY Newspapers of June 9 2011, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, former spokesman to late President Yar’adua, told a bizarre story of how former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili lost out in becoming Yar’adua’s vice presidential candidate in the race leading up to the PDP primaries in December 2006. This same story had been told before, by Mallam Nasir El Rufai, in a long article he wrote about the late President Yar’adua in 2007. But Adeniyi’s version comes out more explicit, graphical and detailed. The politics of those days are not the matter of my primary concern but the level of hypocrisy contained in that story, the hypocrisy of a nation that is supposed to be fighting a dogged war against corruption, always taunting the mantra “zero tolerance for corruption”

In the story, Adeniyi had clearly stated that he had attended a meeting and he was privy to some information that had helped stop the emergence of Odili as vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2007 elections. The information was about Odili’s corruption which was so great that it had been described as a “bombshell” by the ex EFCC boss himself, Nuhu Ribadu. This piece of information, which Nigerians do not have access to was said to have disqualified Peter Odili from becoming Nigeria’s Vice President at the time. The question is, since when did information on a Governor’s corrupt activities become simply a political weapon? Why has this man not been prosecuted if the EFCC boss had in his possession raw facts of the man’s corrupt activities? If this man will not be prosecuted, then EFCC owes Bode George, James Ibori and Dimeji Bankole an apology! Is this how to fight corruption in Nigeria? Where corruption is found but tolerated simply because of political advantage? If this man is sitting on looted billions which rightfully belong to Nigerians, then he should be brought to book, and the people’s money recovered from him and put to better use for the collective good of the people. It is reported that the loot traceable to Odili amounts up to N244 billion!!

I am aware that the EFCC under Ribadu had tried to arrest and prosecute Odili, but the man had obtained a “Perpetual Injunction” restraining the EFCC from arresting him. This had handicapped the watchdog agency as Peter Odili walks around a free man in the nation he had raped and looted. I am not a lawyer but this matter requires some examination. Pray! Whoever steps forward to serve as a public official, to whom public funds is entrusted, must be ready to be accountable to the public at any time he is required to! How can a man serve as Governor for eight years yet refuse to be accountable for his tenure? What a shame! What does he have to hide? If Governor Peter Odili is sure he did not steal Rivers State’s people’s money, then let him come out and present himself for investigation and interrogation! But if he did steal, then let him be answerable for his crimes!

Also, how can a court of law uphold such an ignominious ruling? We are supposed to be fighting corruption in Nigeria if I am not wrong? We are supposed to show zero tolerance for corruption! How does this sort of injunction and ruling help to tackle the demon of corruption and impunity in our society? It is said that Governor Odili’s wife is a highly placed Judge in our nation; that is the more reason why the Governor should have embraced the law and allowed the law to take its rightful course!! A law that protects thieves and state looters is a disservice to the nation. The perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting Odili should be set aside and vacated as soon as possible in the interest of public good. This would empower the anti-corruption agency to do its rightful job on this case. I call on every anti-corruption group in Nigeria, including CACOL led by Mr. Debo Adeniran; The Youth Anti-Corruption League, led by Mr. Jumoke Ilyasu, at whose instance Dimeji Bankole is currently in the EFCC dragnet, plus all patriots in different groups and individuals of conscience in our nation to take up this matter with every tone of urgency it deserves, as it is an insult on all of us as a people, that a man would serve us yet refuse to be accountable for his tenure of service.

We must insist that Peter Odili be brought to book. If Bankole got no perpetual order restraining justice, Ibori got no such order, neither did Bode George nor all those looters that the EFCC had previously indicted, then what is the rationale or justification for the restraining order protecting Peter Odili from being brought to justice? We must begin to make noise about this matter and place demands at the right quarters. The Supreme Court must vacate this order and allow Odili to be prosecuted. If he is innocent, then he would go free and win the applause of Nigerians, but if not, why prevent him from answering for his crimes?

What does Adeniyi know about Odili? What is the” bombshell” piece of information on Odili that was acquired from the diplomatic mission of a Western country? Nigerians deserve to know. He was not a private businessman, he was a public official. Those who come to equity must come with clean hands it is said. Let the wind blow, and let the arse of the chicken be shown to the world. Perhaps this will help to bring many other looters to book. N244 billion no be small money fa! That kind of money in the hands of Rotimi Amaechi will go a long way in transforming Rivers State, I am sure of that.

It is shameful the level of greed in our leaders, nay our people. There is enough to meet everyone’s need, but not enough to satisfy a few people’s greed. I remember that ageless moral code, taught by the scripture, one which every Nigerian ought never to forget, “The life of a man does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” When will we ever learn this simple lesson in Nigeria? Corruption is the bane of Nigeria’s progress. Corruption is everywhere but our own in Nigeria is alarming, its simply too much. Heists is what we have, not just stealing. Among the suffering millions of our people, J F Kennedy’s ageless warning comes to mind, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich!” Mr. Adeniyi, what is the bombshell about Odili that you know? Share it and let justice prevail!!

If you read the EFCC file on Odili (its available on PDF if you google search) and the sheer billions he looted through his conduit, Arik Air boss -Ikhide-Arumemi, its enough to make one weep for Rivers State.

Let's not even go into the burning of George-Ama, Okrika and murder of its townfolk. Besides corruption, the crimes against humanity committed by Odili's thugs (Ateke Tom) there is enough to send him to the gallows.

What has Adeniyi got to do with this case. The efcc was aware of the alleged(?) loot and wanted to prosecute odili.

The court in its wisdom or lack of it granted perpetual injunction barring odili from being prosecuted. If adeniyi should publish the details at this stage, he may be liable to libel.

By the way, he did not say ribadu left the case file with him, he just read it at the meeting and declined the task, so he may not have the details.