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Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 - Politics - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 (30277 Views)

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Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Afonjacoward: 7:04pm On Apr 03, 2018
When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) published a list of 135 individuals suspected of looting public treasury in 2007, Lai Mohammed and Garba Shehu roundly condemned the action, with Mr Mohammed describing it as “illegal and a reckless abuse of power” because it was aimed at muzzling opposition.

Roughly 11 years later, the two now play leading roles as top administration officials in the area of communication, andMr Mohammed is anchoring piecemeal publications of names of persons suspected to be fraudulent, including those whose cases are pending before the court.

The then chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, published the names in 2007 to deter the public from voting people with questionable public service background, especially those who had been subjects of corruption investigation.

“We are going to prevent past leaders from contesting elections by exposing their ills no matter how highly they are placed, because they plunged this country into tokunbo stage,” Mr Ribadu said in July 2006 while the names were being compiled. “It is not possible to have free and fair elections when corrupt people are allowed to contest elections. I know that I have made enemies and lost friends but the job must be done.”

In February 2007, a few weeks before the general elections, the EFCC published names of 135 persons suspected to be fraudulent, including then-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and dozens of governors and top politicians.

The list, which the EFCC described as “purely advisory” at the time, comprised 82 members of the opposition parties and 53 members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Muhammadu Buhari, then-candidate of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was not amongst those listed as corrupt and unfit for public office at the time.

At the time, Mr Mohammed was the spokesperson for the opposition Action Congress (AC) while Mr Shehu was the spokesperson for Mr Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the AC in the April 2007 general elections.

“We’re not surprised to see that they’re going for top opposition figures but only inconsequential people in the ruling party,” the AC said at the time. “It means nothing in law, it is in bad faith, illegal and a reckless abuse of power.”

Mr Shehu described the publication as “a piece of cheap blackmail,” and added that they were “studying the list and we are considering a legal option because we are sick and tired of these same baseless and careless charges that they keep bandying about,” according to the BBC.

Umar Yar’Adua, PDP’s candidate in the election who was favoured by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, went on to win the election amidst widespread irregularities.

Now over a decade later, Mr Mohammed is the information minister and the leading actor in the controversial publication of names of alleged looters of public treasury who are members of the PDP.

Mr Mohammed’s list contains exclusively members of the PDP, and it includes those who have been charged to court and pleaded not guilty, those who have reportedly returned money to the EFCC and those who are under investigation but have not been charged to court or returned any money.

As it was at the time, opposition figures whose names appear on Mr.Mohammed’s list have taken to the media to condemn the Buhari administration and reiterate their innocence. PDP chairman Uche Secondus, Olisah Metuh,Rashidi Ladoja, Babangida Aliyu and Femi Fani-Kayode are amongst top opposition figures who have issued blistering replies about their respective inclusion on the list.

Some lawyers have warned that the publication could set off a wave of lawsuits against the Nigerian government while also complicating ongoing trials.

Mr Mohammed did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES requests seeking comments about his new position on naming allegedly corrupt opposition leaders ahead of general elections. The minister had said he was challenged by the PDP to publish the names.

The information minister’s action appears different from the advice of Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, who warned last year that the government cannot publish names of people without first addressing legal implications thereof.

“The disclosure will definitely be made, but it is contingent on reconciliation of associated considerations as they relate to subjudice principles,” Mr Malami said after the Federal Executive Council meeting on July 5, 2017.

Mr Malami’ made the comments hours after the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court ordered the federal government to “immediately” publish personal details of those that law enforcement agencies have recovered suspected public funds from since Mr.Buhari assumed office.

The Buhari administration should “immediately release to Nigerians information about the names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered and the circumstances under which funds were recovered, as well as the exact amount of funds recovered from each public official,” the presiding judge, Hadiza Shagari, said in suit number: FHC/CS/964/2016.

The order came in a lawsuit filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project ( SERAP) following a Freedom of Information suit.

The group had written to Mr Mohammed asking for specific details about recovered funds, including those from whom anti-graft agencies had recovered public funds and assets. But Mr Mohammed rejected the FoI, citing legal implications.

The minister had on June 4, 2016 published funds and assets recovered and those under interim forfeiture by anti-corruption agencies, but failed to include names of those involved.

Mr Mohammed did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comments about what influenced his decision to publish names of alleged looters after rejecting SERAP’s request for a detailed and more specific information about recovered funds.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr Mohammed is reluctant to publish the details of recovered loot because of associated discrepancies that the administration is still trying to work out.

In February, the finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, raised concerns about the gulf between the amount EFCC claimed to have recovered and what is actually in government treasury. Mrs Adeosun said the ministry was only about to account for N91 billion recovered funds since Mr Buhari assumed office in May 2015, as against about N739 billion Mr. Magu said had been recovered within two years.

Ileowo Kikiowo, an APC supporter, said Mr Mohammed’s action should be praised for its historic feat.

“For the first time in the history of this country, people are knowing what some individuals might have stolen from the public,” Mr. Kikiowo said. “Diezani Madueke is facing allegations of mismanaging billions of dollars.”

The analyst said there would be no legal backlash for the action because Mr Mohammed was careful enough to have indicated that the names were only suspects and their guilt or otherwise would be proven in courts.

“If you look at the list, you’ll see that they are named alleged looters, not that government has convicted, so they have no cases in court,” Mr. Kikiowo said.

“I commend the minister for publishing the names,” he added. “It would have been an embarrassment to the government if the PDP had gotten away with the challenge and this has nothing to do with politics but the country’s well-being.”

The decision to hold back information on recovered loot might be because some individuals said to have returned stolen money are either in the APC or associates of the president, said Chido Onumah, an anti-corruption activist.

“Jafaru Isah is said to be a close associate of the president, but the EFCC recovered millions from him in early 2016,” Mr. Onumah told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Tuesday afternoon. “Musiliu Obanikoro was a former PDP member but now in APC and we understand he also returned money to the EFCC.”

Mr Onumah, head of African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) said Mr. Mohammed’s action demonstrates “a lack of commitment in fighting corruption,” on the part of the government.

He also said Mr Mohammed switching sides was “natural and unsurprising” because “the difference between APC and PDP is six and half a dozen.”

“Even President Buhari himself was said to be involved in the return of Abdulrasheed Maina, a corruption allegation he has not denied,” Mr Onumah said.

Above all, Mr Onumah said, Mr Mohammed’s action betrays the Buhari administration’s “lack of confidence in the institutions of the state, especially the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies, to do their work.”

“They’re supposed to strengthen anti-corruption agencies,” Mr Onumah said “But this does not seem to be their interest because it is political season.”


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/263893-lai-mohammed-garba-shehu-condemned-efcc-for-publishing-alleged-looters-list-in-2007.html

9 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by booblacain(m): 7:06pm On Apr 03, 2018
Confusion break bone, yepa!

49 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Afonjacoward: 7:10pm On Apr 03, 2018
@Lalasticlala front page please

4 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Paperwhite(m): 7:33pm On Apr 03, 2018
When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) published a list of 135 individuals suspected of looting public treasury in 2007, Lai Mohammed & Garba Shehu roundly condemned the action.
Mr Mohammed describing it as “illegal & a reckless abuse of power” because it was aimed at muzzling opposition.
Roughly 11 years later, the two now play leading roles as top administration officials in the area of communication, and Mr Mohammed is anchoring piece meal publications of names of persons suspected to be
fraudulent, including those whose cases are pending before the court.
Mr Shehu described the publication as “a piece of cheap blackmail,” and added that they were “studying the list & we are considering a legal option because we are sick & tired of these same baseless and careless charges that they keep bandying about,” according to the BBC.


So they were once involved in similar scenario before Karma is real.The hypocrisy of APC is really nauseating angry Their lies/propaganda kept returning to hunt them.Shameless bunch of people.

The list, which the EFCC described as “purely advisory” at the time, comprised 82 members of the opposition parties and 53 members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
So PDP was even fair & not sanctimonious unlike the satan in Angel form APC

230 Likes 16 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by clevvermind(m): 7:45pm On Apr 03, 2018
Apc are full of confused people. They must be flushed out in 2019.

85 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Omeokachie: 8:00pm On Apr 03, 2018
When the head of the fish is rotten...


A man in opposition yesterday asked Moslems to only vote those that share the same faith with them. Today, he wants people to imbibe religious tolerance.


Yesterday, he said "Abacha never stole". Today, his government is demanding for repatriation of Abacha loot from foreign countries.


Yesterday, he threatened to soak dogs and baboon in blood. Today, he wants people be law abiding.


His only consistency is where the Boko haram is concerned. Yesterday he condemned attack on Boko haram as being anti-north. Today, he wants to grant them amnesty.


Hypocrisy is their forte.

175 Likes 13 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by saaron(m): 8:21pm On Apr 03, 2018
What do you expect from a pathological liar/hypocrite, Liar Mohammed? Lying, lies propaganda and hypocrisy is their stock in trade. In fact, APC govt is a conglomerate of hypocrites from buhari vegetables to the lowest cleaner in APC. Basically everything they condemned PDP govt for, they are doing the same thing ten times over!
By the time this rudderless directionless govt is voted out in 2019, Nigerians will be shocked at the degree of looting in their govt in just 4 years.

57 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by saaron(m): 8:31pm On Apr 03, 2018
Paperwhite:
When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) published a list of 135 individuals suspected of looting public treasury in 2007, Lai Mohammed & Garba Shehu roundly condemned the action, with Mr Mohammed describing it as “illegal & a reckless abuse of power” because it was aimed at muzzling opposition.
Roughly 11 years later, the two now play leading roles as top administration officials in the area of communication, and Mr Mohammed is anchoring piece meal publications of names of persons suspected to be
fraudulent, including those whose cases are pending before the court.
Mr Shehu described the publication as “a piece of cheap blackmail,” and added that they were “studying the list & we are considering a legal option because we are sick & tired of these same baseless and careless charges that they keep bandying about,” according to the BBC.

Karma is real.The hypocrisy of APC is really nauseating angry Their lies/propaganda kept returning to hunt them.Shameless bunch of people.

The list, which the EFCC described as “purely advisory” at the time, comprised 82 members of the opposition parties and 53 members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
So PDP was even fair & not sanctimonious unlike the satan in Angel form APC
At least PDP govt then were even decent enough to include members of their own govt/Party in the list. The same cannot be said with APC govt, current hypocrites in power.
This APC govt under buhari are just bunch of bloody hypocrites.

113 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Premiumwriter: 8:49pm On Apr 03, 2018
Anyways I'm tired of everything.

1 Like

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Igba123: 8:54pm On Apr 03, 2018
Otu okwu lienus mohammed aka devil's chief rival.

7 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by BruncleZuma: 9:06pm On Apr 03, 2018
grin grin grin grin

Bia Op, isi odikwa gi mma? Don't you know that if any man be in APC he automatically becomes a new creature?

50 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Nobody: 9:06pm On Apr 03, 2018
.

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by BMCSlayer: 9:07pm On Apr 03, 2018
.
Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by kings09(m): 9:08pm On Apr 03, 2018
APC and karma just de relate anyhow.

They r just bn haunted per sec.

APC is a failure as is buhari

16 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Mintayo(m): 9:08pm On Apr 03, 2018
This life en. For everything you do or say, there is always a payback.

6 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by MrWondah(m): 9:08pm On Apr 03, 2018
cool
Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Teeboi56: 9:08pm On Apr 03, 2018
Lie Muhammad

3 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by LibertyRep: 9:09pm On Apr 03, 2018
There's hardly anything left for which Lai and his band fiercely opposed, attacked and ridiculed the last administration for that this present government hasn't done over and over again.

Subsidy removal, pump price hike, assest declaration, medical tourism, negotiation with BH etc

If that isn't hypocrisy and two - facedness, then I don't know what to call it.

15 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by honestivo(m): 9:10pm On Apr 03, 2018
Be careful for what you are saying today because tomorrow is pregnant

7 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by PresidentAtiku(m): 9:10pm On Apr 03, 2018
APC has no shame!!!

They set the trap themselves and fall into it.

Atiku had no choice than to leave

27 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by OBAGADAFFI: 9:13pm On Apr 03, 2018
cheesy
Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by sujexy(m): 9:14pm On Apr 03, 2018
hypocrites

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by MrFuckallday: 9:16pm On Apr 03, 2018
It's now obvious that nobody lais like Mohammed. cheesy

9 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Sarang(f): 9:16pm On Apr 03, 2018
Our government is in Jeopardy sad cry

Please see my signature

1 Like

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by thundafire: 9:18pm On Apr 03, 2018
Confused ruling government always in opposition

2 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by misano(m): 9:20pm On Apr 03, 2018
APC na just shit jare....

2 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Charltex: 9:20pm On Apr 03, 2018
The power of social media..

Whatever you do will at one time resurface again.

4 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by bedspread: 9:20pm On Apr 03, 2018
Two MUMUS

1 Like

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by TPAND(f): 9:21pm On Apr 03, 2018
Odikwa Risky.... Very very risky. Apparently there is nothing called looters list. It's just an imaginary list concocted to witch-hunt and dent the image of suspected corrupt officials

2 Likes

Re: Lai Mohammed, Garba Shehu Condemned EFCC For Publishing Looters’ List In 2007 by Awoleesu(m): 9:30pm On Apr 03, 2018
saaron:
At least PDP govt then were even decent enough to include members of their own govt/Party in the list. The same cannot be said with APC govt, current hypocrites in power.
This APC govt under buhari are just bunch of bloody hypocrites.
We must understand that PDP didn't publish no list of any looters whatsoever. If there was any such publication, the EFCC did make it!

2 Likes

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