Matters Arising

Matters Arising- EFCC & The Vice President

Baba Ibrahim

The report on the investigation into the affairs of the VP by the EFCC, which the VP is accused of abusing his office, is always explained away that the investigation is at the in stance of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. This report goes on to indict the Vice President Atiku Abubakar and also Mohammed Babangida (Albeit His father former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. All of them contenders to the throne come May 2007. Talk about shooting from the hip or is it killing two birds with one stone?

First of all, do we have to wait for other foreign govt before our supposed anti-corruption agencies start investigating? It will be recalled that the VP’s US home was raided by the FBI sometime last year in connection with an alleged bribery case in which the VP’s name was mentioned. It is noteworthy to note that it was a sting operation by the FBI on Congressman William J. Jefferson and subsequent investigations by the same FBI found the marked US$100,000 in a freezer in his (Jefferson’s) home and they (FBI) have exonerated the VP (Atiku) and the FBI also allege that Jefferson used Atiku’s name to solicit for bribe and he (Jefferson) also admitted that the VP never authorised him to collect any money on his behalf.

While I am holding no brief for the VP, it is highly unlikely that the VP as a successful businessman before coming into office will stoop that low as to collect a bribe of US$100,000. We all know that while the said amount might be a lot of money to a US congressman or even US President, it is chicken change to ministers in Nigeria. It was also noted in the same EFCC report that Otunba Fashawe actually gave Mrs Maureen Scurry aka Maureen Edu a gift of US$100,000 and that is the same amount that the VP solicited for.

The administrative panel of inquiry set up by the President comprising of his own appointed ministers in their own findings and recommendations found thus

’We also found that the Vp’s action in unilaterally approving the disbursement of the sum of US$20m(without the approval of the President and the federal executive council as was done for the initial US$125m) violated the constitution and amounted to conduct unbecoming of the VP high office).’Thisday Newspaper, Sept 8 page 61.

These ministers have just mentioned that the President actually approved the disbursement of US$125m and yet they are trying to hang the VP on account of that, all it means is that

Since the president actually approved the above disbursement, then it means that the VP is not culpable because so called ‘due process’ was followed.
If the VP is guilty of the above, then it is also an indictment of the president since the VP sought and got his approval.

If they want to prosecute the VP for the US$20m, which it is alleged that the VP approved without authorisation, then the President should also be indicted for approving the initial US$125m. As we all know, the buck ends at the president’s office. The question is where does due process start and where does it end?

Mike Adenuga claimed that his bank marketed for and got approval (the President also approved according to the EFCC report) so where is the problem there. Banks in Nigeria practice marketing in a peculiar including sending skimpily dressed ladies into peoples homes and offices. The said money from PTDF was alleged to have been deposited in 14 different banks and if investigated, it will be found that different interests were at stake in the decision to put that money in any of the banks. The same will apply to any govt ministry and parastatals? What about the foreign reserves management, what was the rational in choosing bank A over bank B.

This investigation seems to have a lot to do with the VP desire to succeed his boss and the presidents desire to frustrate that ambition. Personally, I think that the President is using govt machinery to settle personal scores and that is what I would call abuse of office. The said allegation though not to be taken lightly (corruption is quite very serious crime in my opinion), the report never mentioned the amount missing of if any money is missing at all. In the case of NPA and Bode George where billions was misappropriated, and ministry of works and Anthony Anenih where about 300 billion naira in OBJ’s own words was misappropriated, I would like to believe that these two situations where ordinary Nigerians were deprived of those services and yet the perpetuators of such act are still in the corridors of power.

It is very important for the EFCC to continue their anti-corruption drive but they are fast loosing credibility in the face of Nigerians and the world in general. Foreign missions in Nigeria are quite privy to the situation in the country from the failed third term plot to his war on perceived opponents. The launching of an appeal fund for Obj’s presidential library while he is still in office is a clear example of abuse of office. Bill Clinton’s library fund was launched in 2004 almost 4(four) years after his exit from office. Gbenga, Obj’s son on an interview granted earlier this year admitted actually bringing investors into ajaokuta steel company and that sounds like conflict of interest. What about the alleged 200 million shares in Transcorp, which has been buying up govt utilities? That smells like abuse of office and conflict of interest all rolled into one.

If the VP is found guilty as alleged, he should be made to face justice but it is a form of injustice for the VP only to be facing all these attacks while all other known corrupt officials are left high and dry in their exalted seats. Mr. President will leave Aso Rock next year and all the wealth he acquired in office will be put up for public scrutiny and all these aides and ministers will not be there to defend him because they will have jumped ship to the new regime. In the case of the VP, this is a perfect example of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.