The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said that immunity clause will not save the Plat-eau State governor, Joshua Dariye from standing criminal trial over corruption in court.
Speaking at the occasion marking the international anti-corruption day in Abuja, the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that the case of Chief Dariye would serve as warning to other governors who hide under the immunity clause to perpetrate fraud while in office.
Represented by the Director General of the EFCC, Mr Emmanuel Akumay, the commission chairman said that despite the provision of section 308 of the 1999 constitution which immunes the president, his vice and governors from court proce-edings, the EFCC had filed a suit against Chief Dariye.
He said, “We have today, in court, a high political office holder, Dariye and those who aided or assisted him in corrupt practices. It is a warning to others like him and those in public office that their conduct in office will be examined and may be called upon to give an account of their stewardship.
“We also have in court several top officials of the Central Bank who abused their office, thereby causing corrupt financial business with some of our banks operating.
“One of them had been convicted and sentenced to prison by a high court and we have sanctioned those whose similar activities are spoiling the image of our country abroad.”
He added that assets worth over $200 million had been seized from criminals, disclosing that those behind failed contracts were being dealt with.
Also, speaking at the occasion which was sponsored by the United Nation office on drugs and crime, the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN) said that the beneficiaries of the section 308 have violently abused it.
He submitted that the violation of the immunity clause had made its removal from the constitution inevitable faulting the rating of Nigeria as the third most corrupt country by the Transparency International.
“The only reason why governors have not been prosecuted is because of the constitutional protection they enjoy under section 308 of the constitution. The philosophy behind section 308 of the constitution has no doubt been violently abused as to render continued retention of the section in the constitution inadvisable,” Olujinmi averred.
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) Justice Mustapha Akanbi urged Nigerians to change their orientation and called on governments to include anti-corruption in schools curriculum. |
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