The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has revealed that the federal government cannot prosecute the people indicted in the House of Representative probe into the management of the fuel subsidy, saying the probe was just a ‘fact-finding’ mission.

Reacting to calls for the prosecution of those allegedly indicted in the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, the AGF in a statement on Thursday stated that the government will need relevant agencies to conduct necessary investigations before it can commence the prosecution.

According to the AGF, “government must be guided by the dictates of the rule of law and due process as required of any democratically elected and responsible government. In this regard, the need to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out by relevant law enforcement agencies cannot be overemphasized.”

Even as the House of Representative in a unanimous vote approved all the recommendations of the report, the AGF noted that the exercise carried out by the legislature is “mainly fact-finding.” He further pointed out that the report of the ad-hoc committee and the resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives, were yet to be transmitted to the executive arm of government.

“Nevertheless, when the report and accompanying resolutions are received, the relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies will commence the tedious process of sieving through the report, with a view to assembling all the essential ingredients required to sustain criminal charges that may be filed as a result of such investigations” he added.

Lack of evidence

Referring to recent flaws recorded by the anti-corruption agencies in the trial of some corrupt allegations, Mr Adoke stated that “experience has shown that whenever our law enforcement agencies are stampeded to arraign suspects, the end result is usually the discharge of such suspects by the courts ostensibly for want of evidence.”

“Nigerians must therefore allow our law enforcement agencies to conduct painstaking investigations that will ultimately satisfy the standard of proof required in criminal cases.”

He however admitted that the allegations contained in the subsidy probe report deserve serious action on the part of all those with oversight responsibility over the agencies and persons concerned.

He urged Nigerians to have faith in the processes being undertaken and to patiently wait for the outcome of the investigations and subsequent prosecutions that may flow from the fuel subsidy probe and also the on-going probe by the Senate.

Divert attention

Mr Adoke also reached out to the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) that has given the government a two weeks ultimatum to commence the prosecution of all those indicted in the report; else they will call for a nationwide protest.

The AGF stated that the threat to embark on demonstrations and strike actions will only “compound the problem and divert attention, as well as, the energy that would otherwise have been channeled into productive use by law enforcement agencies”

Mr Adoke reiterated government’s commitment to anti-corruption as he recalled the President’s initial reaction to the Report of the Fuel Subsidy probe, saying that “any person found wanting will be prosecuted irrespective of the person’s standing in the society.”

He therefore enjoined all Nigerians who are concerned about the revelations from the fuel subsidy probe report to be “patient and exercise restraint while these difficult, but essential processes are carried out by appropriate agencies.”

“As Attorney General of the Federation, I swore to uphold the Constitution and I am therefore not oblivious of the constitutional responsibility placed on my shoulders to ensure that those who contravene our laws are held accountable through the legal process” he stated.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/05/03/those-indicted-by-subsidy-probe-report-will-not-be-prosecuted-minister-of-justice/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

naija bad people wuruwuru nation!!

hehehe

How would they be prosecuted when everyone is involved

The way our rulers are going about is so bad. Can an average young man who went through hell to get educated and get a degree only to come out and get no job look at all these mess and not be tempted to evil - become an armed robber in order to get a share of the national cake that is being hoarded by just a small group of people who will not allow the wealth of a whole nation circulate to all hardworking citizens. The more you look in this country the less you see. Corruption is being elevated everywhere. May God help Nigeria. Amen.

The circus continues

This is one of the numerous reasons I had stop praying for Nigeria.
A bloody military take over is of necessity in Nigeria not this corrupt enabled-system called democracy.

Well said. Let us not jump into quick conclusions and make mistakes afterwards. All the parties involved in the subsidy regime should also be interrogated....the likes of Rilwan Lukman, former GMD-Barkindo(or what) etc must face the panel for us to get to the root of this rot.


Having done that, let the rule of law take its full course and those found guilty must refund the money first before going to jail.

SNG- be guided and don't mislead the masses

I am loving this rule of law nonsense

Na wa for this our country o.

Not in anyway surprised at this turn of events. But for how long are we going to sit behind our computer systems criticizing the wrongs in the society instead of collectively correcting them? SMH for Nigeria!

@op, please stop misleading us with such headings.

The heading is quite misleading....the AGF did not say that they will not be prosecuted if found guilty....rather he was saying that the probe is inconclusive and until it is concluded and formally transmitted to the executives,they can't be prosecuted

No be Fresh air dose ŏƒ Ʊ. Θα† voted dis bastard govt ΐn want??

Ʊ neva see anything, no be fresh air go finish dis country, na AC go blasT una die

Nigerians ϑα† voted dis condemned Jonathan may Ʊ all ,.... Hmmmmm!!!

Mtcheeeeeee__u

Not a suprise, after all,170 counts of looting on ibori were all dropped,the rest is history. In Nigeria, only petty thieves or goat thief was given 2 years jail.
Nigerians are docile followers,so every cow and chicken will shit on our heads.If the AG goes to his village and they welcome him with stones,he will get it right next time. But look at the "malus" in Kwara, drumming support for cow head like, bukola saraki.Nigeria is FINISHED.

In this regard, the need to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out by relevant law enforcement agencies cannot be overemphasized.”

in other words the legislatures are irrelevant govt agency/org. If i'm to understand d agf, he is simply saying the legislatures are clowns and their findings should not be taken seriously as they are not the agency who should do that.

abuchilag: Well said. Let us not jump into quick conclusions and make mistakes afterwards. All the parties involved in the subsidy regime should also be interrogated....the likes of Rilwan Lukman, former GMD-Barkindo(or what) etc must face the panel for us to get to the root of this rot.


Having done that, let the rule of law take its full course and those found guilty must refund the money first before going to jail.

SNG- be guided and don't mislead the masses

Hehehe mister bigot you are noted. We have heard the who promised us fresh air. We are enjoying the fresh air, with hisses though.

My fingers are crossed! Not at the end of the day we would be told nobody to prosecute - for that would really get me mad! I can wait a while for the investigation to be carried out properly.

abuchilag: @op, please stop misleading us with such headings.

The heading is quite misleading....the AGF did not say that they will not be prosecuted if found guilty....rather he was saying that the probe is inclusive and until it is concluded and formally transmitted to the executives,they can't be prosecuted

You resumed at the end of the month on the 29. Congrats, are they paying from the subsidy scam money.

ok

For those that voted GEJ and not PDP, Just continue to enjoy your fresh air

jonathan lacks the moral standard to go after any corrupt person in nigeria because he lives with corruption inside his bedroom. his wife has a pending case of $13m fraud against the ppl of bayelsa state.
any day he says fim, the case file will be dusted and re-opened so it is a free for all corruption galore as long as you are loyal.
tell me why boko haram will not multiply. i have been seeing useless govts in nigeria but i v not seen anyone like this.
if anyone talks about protest, the fisherman will roll out his tanks and send out his soldiers to kill at sight but i am sure his end and that of pdp is not far from now.

That's τ̅ђё problem with Naija...@ least this administration is bold enough to tell us we shouldn't expect much from τ̅ђё probe...mtscew!!!!

Bunch of oloriburukus akoshi beros ajarabukas jati jatis rada radas olofos. May sango destroy ur fresh air. So no babalawo can cast a spell on our leaders e.g may all our corrupt leaders treek to syria. ADIEU JUSTICE!!!

eeerrr....

while the sense of outrage by people is understandable, any rookie lawyer will side with the Attorney General.

The House of Rep report will be easily defeated if used in a court of law. E.g.Some parties were not heard, some facts to sustain a charge need to be gathered together, witnesses lined up etc. Adoke was right to say it needs further work from anti graft agencies. Whether they will do their job is another story.

I think SNG should better educate Nigeria on how justice is served and monitor the process and not this two week ultimatum they are giving, which is difficult moreso when the report is yet to reach government.

A better option is the NASS to pass a law that will empower the president to set up Judicial Commission of Inquiry so that large scale cases like this can be dedicated to a commission that can sentence people to jail, with right of appeal of course. It will quicker, more transparent and send the right message. Also the pension scam can be treated so. If the president wants to truly fight corruption its the way to go

Letting the cases pass through the obviously overwhelmed EFCC and the lethargic ICPC will not achieve any real result. Shei Awosika brothers are free; Erastus Akingbola is smiling. What of Saminu Turaki, Jolly Nyame, Bagafarawa, Orji, peter odili etc are they half way through their trial? if at all?

Also, as noticed by others, the title of the thread is misleading

lmfao!
Najiriya jaga-jaga!

I thought GEJ said he would not spare those implicated in this subsidy stuff terrible news

D norm here is dat no one ever gets procecuted for any polical related offence. All dat r involved r PDP faithfuls, so d rule of law here simply is "remain faithful n u wil neva get punished for any crime". Who needs d foul mouthed minister 2 know dat dis case wil sooner or later b swept under dia already filled carpet. Its only d daft n dundees dat stil tink of divisions in nigeria along tribal n religious lines. In my country dia is only one divide; d PDP RUINERs VS d IMPORESHIPed LEAD(irrespective of dia tribe or religion). D war is strictly supposed to be b/w d RICH vs d POOR. I call on BOKO HARAM to try as much as they can to lay hand on dat subsidy fraud list n bring those crooks to book(bomb).

abuchilag: Well said. Let us not jump into quick conclusions and make mistakes afterwards. All the parties involved in the subsidy regime should also be interrogated....the likes of Rilwan Lukman, former GMD-Barkindo(or what) etc must face the panel for us to get to the root of this rot.


Having done that, let the rule of law take its full course and those found guilty must refund the money first before going to jail.

SNG- be guided and don't mislead the masses

.Ode tie niwo yi

Fidifi!!!!!!
I dont expect a thief 2 persecute a thief expect a bigger thief is involved.