Civil society groups condemn President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing the Access Bank boss to investigate himself.

Civil society groups have condemned President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Group Managing director of Access Bank, as chairman of the 15-man committee to verify and reconcile all claims made in the report of a Technical Committee set up to review fuel subsidy payments.

“That is an aberration, although it is common with this government,” said Olanrewaju Suraju, the head of a civil society group, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).

A company owned by Mr. Imoukhuede, Ice Energy Petroleum Trading Limited, was indicted by the House of Representatives committee which probed the fuel subsidy payments. The company received $2,131,166.32 (N345.3 million) in hard currency in 2011, without importing or supplying any product, the House report stated.

Ice Energy had failed to either appear or submit documents to the House committee. Following the insistence by many Nigerians that the House report be implemented, the Federal Government set up the Technical committee headed by Mr. Imoukhuede and subsequently, the new 15-man committee.

It’s all condemnation

The HEDA boss questioned the propriety of Mr. Jonathan’s decision to appoint the Access bank boss saying “how can any rational human being, a PhD holder for that matter make such appointment.”

He described the appointment by Mr. Jonathan and other actions and statements of the President as steps that are taking Nigeria backward.

“We’ve never had it so bad in Nigeria. President Jonathan is taking Nigeria to the lowest level that we have ever had in this country,” Mr. Suraju said

The coordinator of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, believes that by appointing Mr. Imoukhuede to “investigate himself,” the President has shown that he is not interested in the outcome of the probe.

“Jonathan is not really interested in the probes being carried out. He does not want such probe to succeed,” Mr. Adeniran said.

The CACOL boss described Mr. Imoukhuede’s appointment as a characteristic behaviuor of the President Jonathan’s administration.

“It is the stock-trade of this government to surround itself with indicted persons,” Mr. Adeniran said. “Innocent people will not want to work with a government that is constituted through a fraudulent means.”

Imoukhuede’s presence discredits report

Lagos lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, believes that the presence of Mr. Imoukhuede on both the technical committee and the 15-man panel has already discredited whatever report emanates from them.

“The report is discredited. How can somebody who has been indicted, who has not cleared his name preside over something like that,” Mr. Ogunye stated.

The lawyer stated that by choosing the bank boss to chair the committee, Mr. Jonathan had shown his unwillingness to prosecute indicted officials and companies in the fuel subsidy scam. He said it called to question the credibility of people around the President.

“It appears this government is in short supply of credible people,” Mr. Ogunye said.

Kobojunkie: im for appoint Otedola too. Make the whole complete.

clemmonce: FOOLISHNESS IS LIKE PREGNANCY YOU CANT HIDE IT. GEJ IS FOOLISH

Baba_Eleko: I don't know anyone else in my entire life who had the same thinking cap as Jonathan. It's so sad how God can be this to 150 million people. This is not what we deserve. We deserve better, we have suffered, our fathers did, our father's father did. The tomorrow of our kids is far from bright if this is what they have to come meet on deck. I'm so sad from the root of my heart.

Delafruita:
LWKMD

ypzilanti: GEJ is making the 40 lap top squad really work hard for their mony. LOL. Please Beaf and pals should give us the official response to this one.

clemmonce: FOOLISHNESS IS LIKE PREGNANCY YOU CANT HIDE IT. GEJ IS FOOLISH

reindeer: I'm sure the new look EFCC will be headed by Alamieyiesegha Supported by Tafa Balogun...in the GEJ era..the corrupt is king!!

Tyche: Can this guy ever get it right?

Okija_juju: Okay!! Jonathan is really making his supporters feel like douchebags everyday!!

How do I explain this one away now?!

REASON: Since he works in a bank, he cant be bribed like Farouk

lagerwhenindoubt:

WT^F GEJhas gotten it right, far better than most presidents of nigeria. GEJ is giving us what we deserve - since all we do is siddon look, God dey, I dey wait FRESH AIR!!

Delafruita:
LWKMD

thegoodjoehunt: Pikin no fine, Pikin no fine, Mama like am.

Husband no get brain, Husband no get brain, Patience still love am.