Nigeria Anti- corruption crusade may suffer a terrible setback in the light of an apparent lack of cooperation with the relevant agencies and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. One of such anti-corruption agencies is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) whose chairman and Ibrahim Magu appears not to have any regard for the office of Attorney General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami SAN who is vested with prosecutorial powers under the Nigerian Constitution. For instance Messrs. Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Ltd., currently faced graft allegations for failure to remit funds due to the Nigeria Government under Oil Mining Leases granted to Atlantic Energy. Atlantic Energy owned by Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko was under several contracts obligations with Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) - a subsidiary of the State-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Recently, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Malami had briefed a firm of Legal Practitioners to sue these persons in a Civil Court to recovering sums owned by the Nigerian Government. The matter is currently before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which Court has jurisdiction to entertain under the Nigeria Laws. In effect, Justice Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court Lagos granted a Worldwide Order of Mareva Injunction against the known assets and bank accounts of Messrs. Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko, and Atlantic Energy, totaling $1.8 Billion. The matter is still pending before the Federal High Court, and this order was widely published in Nigeria Newspapers and social media. Notwithstanding the pendency of these series of lawsuits, and the existing Mareva Orders of the Federal High Court, Mr. Ibrahim Magu of EFCC is bent on arraigning Messrs. Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko, and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nig. Ltd on a criminal charge before the same Federal High Court, and interestingly on the same facts.

The majority of Nigerians believe that Mr. Magu, who is currently in the acting capacity as the chairman of EFCC, is doing everything to impress the President so that his appointment could be confirmed as the substantive Chairman of the anti-graft commission. Mr. Magu, therefore, does not care whether his actions constitute an abuse of Court process or whether his actions violates the tenets of a fair hearing as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In all of this, it is expected that the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Malami rise to his constitutional responsibilities as the chief law officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure that the fight against corruption follows due regard to the Rule of Law.

Finally, the Attorney General of the Federation should enforce a strict guideline that will ensure proper coordination of strategy with agencies of Nigerian Government under his jurisdiction. In effect, agencies will no longer be working at cross-purpose. If we continue with status quo, agencies will further run afoul of the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and this will likely make a mess of President Buhari’ s anti-corruption program.

Signed:
Akande

Buhari must hear this!

If it continues like this, one can easily foresee avoidable failures. When our learned gentlemen vacate the court for EFCC, they will know know the difference between force and law. Just wait and see.