Anti-graft War Incomplete Without Obasanjo's Arrest, Says Kalu

Anti-graft war incomplete without Obasanjo's arrest, says Kalu
By Alexandra Mede (Abuja) and Sade Ayodele (Lagos)




Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has repeated his warning that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) would not fight a credible war against corruption until it prosecutes Obasanjo.
 

He told reporters at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos on Sunday that although recent developments under the new leadership of the EFCC are commendable, such would amount to selective justice if Obasanjo remains untouched.


He said the fact that some individuals who were close to Obasanjo are being hounded is not enough to give the EFCC a pass mark.


"We cannot judge the EFCC now. We are still watching. Until they catch the main man, they have not started," he stated.


In his view, Obasanjo should have been arrested long ago following disclosures from his former aides.


"What else is needed when somebody said you gave out contracts wrongly? Your Finance Minister said you did not obey the law and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said a contract that was supposed to be given out of $400 million was given out for $5 billion. What else are you looking for?


"Until (Obasanjo) is arrested, the war on corruption has not started. I expect (EFCC) to go after him. I want everybody to answer his name. That is the correct thing to do. We are watching, we are not going to be a burden to anybody and we are not going to be spectators."


Kalu praised the way the EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri, is going about her duties, noting that it is the best approach an astute security personnel should adopt.


"She is not calling a press conference everyday. She is in her office doing her job and that is what it should be. That is what is expected of the security people to do. You must have your information before you swing into action, not acting before having information."


In any case, a petition demanding the probe of Obasanjo has been received by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which also has dossiers on 23 former Governors.


ICPC Chairman, Emmanuel Ayoola, made the disclosures in Abuja at the weekend.


He said the Commission would soon publish the list of former Governors who have violated the ICPC Act.


A statement issued by ICPC Resident Consultant, (Media and Event), Folu Olamiti, quoted him as saying that although the petition against Obasanjo appears vague the Commission is studying it.


"As far as the ICPC is concerned, nobody should feel offended if investigated. It is what the law says that it will do. It is misconception to look at the status of a person and conclude that you are not going to investigate him," the statement added.


"We are looking at the files. There are at least 23 of the former Governors (involved). I believe that in the next two weeks we will know which former Governors will be investigated and which ones will not."


Ayoola noted that the ICPC Act permits it to go after Governors once they leave office and no longer have immunity.


"We don't need an independent counsel to investigate and prosecute them. We are scrutinising the files to see whether there are cases that we could now pursue. Many of the allegations were made as far back as 2003. We need to see which of these allegations are motivated for election purposes.


"We (also) have one or two petitions against serving Governors. What the law says is that when we come across such petitions we should pass them to the Chief Justice who has the mandate to appoint independent counsel to investigate the allegations.


"When an independent counsel investigates, he does not prosecute. He reports to the legislature. It is for the legislature to take over from there."


He stressed that setting up special courts may not necessarily solve the problem of delay in the prosecution of corruption cases.


"Setting up special courts is an option. There is a Bill before the National Assembly (on it). With benefit of past experiences, it may probably work for a while but nobody can guarantee that it will be the solution to the problem."


Ayoola added that the ICPC will ask the House of Representatives for its report on the probe of the energy sector for review, in line with its mandate.


He also advocated that performance bonds should be a condition for the award of contracts to prevent the abandonment of projects.


"We are waiting for the (House) to complete the exercise and whether the report is sent to us for prosecution or not, we are going to ask for the transcript.


"We appreciate what they are doing but if we are following what they are doing merely for the purpose of prosecution, we are not going to get maximum benefit from their actions. Through the transcript, we will see how the system permitted such things to happen."


http://odili.net/news/source/2008/aug/11/711.html

honest talks from Kalu.

The only BOLD guy to speak the truth in our face.

That would be the day!!!

Papals bulls