Ubagate: Yet Another Question for EFCC By Nuhu Shuaib
In one of my previous
articles titled One Thousand and One Questions for EFCC published
in various newspapers across the country, I raised some salient issues
for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. I did mention that the
EFCC is accused of selective justice. While President Obasanjo is having
an easy ride with EFCC, his perceived enemies are facing the worst
moment of their life. I buttressed my stance with lots and lots of
cases.
The aspect that is of
particular concern to a lot of people is that whenever the name of
President Obasanjo or those of his cronies are mentioned in connection
with any corrupt practice, EFCC approached it lackadaisically. If Nuhu
Ribadu’s response is sought on the issue, his response can be summed up
as ‘of all the good work we have done, and still doing, my critics will
isolate a small fragment that is not done to castigate us’.
However, Nuhu Ribadu’s
Commission is known to fly with the speed of lightening to investigate
and prosecute cases involving those classified as enemies of the
President. A clear example to support this assertion was the recent
investigation of Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The speed with which
Atiku was investigated, indicted by the Administrative Panel, gazetted
by the Federal Government qualifies everyone and institutions involved
in the saga for a place in the Guinness Book of Record.
I will lift a paragraph verbatim from my
article which is of particular relevance to the present subject matter.
It goes thus: Andy Uba, Chris’ elder brother, was marginally
surviving on the sale of health insurance policies before he chanced on
Obasanjo in 1998. Today, he is said to be stupendously wealthy. But will
Ribadu ever probe the source of his sudden wealth? A dog dare not bark
in the presence of a hyena. I did not see into the future when I
wrote this piece. It is just the reality on ground as I will prove
shortly.
Andy Uba, Special Assistant to President
Obasanjo on Domestic Matters, is at the centre of money laundering in
the United States of America as reported by major newspapers across the
country. Andy, though eased out of the Presidency, has not denied the
allegation which can be taken as admittance of guilt.
To the consternation of everyone, a
spokesman of the President in the person of Akin Oshuntokun came out
debunk the allegation saying that the source of the rumour is
questionable and as such should be disregarded. This is even when the
man at the centre of the mess has not denied any involvement in the
scandal. Akin went further to say that there is nothing in the report to
suggest that the said money is public fund. What an absurd statement to
be made by a public officer. How is the United States’ agency that
investigated Andy supposed to know the source of the laundered money?
Anyway, that is by the way.
The worst aspect of the scenario was the
statement credited o the Chairman of EFCC. That he was not going to
investigate Andy until his Commission is officially informed by the
United States of America. A case of this magnitude involving the
President of our country, using the presidential aircraft for money
laundering is not going to be investigated until US notifies you? This
is the same Ribadu who, along with el-Rufai, in his recent interview
with The Nation mentioned that even if his father was involved in
corruption he will not shield him from investigation. The same Ribadu
that harasses innocent citizens on mere hearsays will not touch Andy
even with the weight of this allegation. What if USA fails to inform the
Commission? Can’t the Commission requests for clarification on the issue
as did the United States in the case involving Jefferson?
Luckily enough, we are made to understand
that a United States official has confirmed the indictment of Andy Uba
and the report has been forwarded to EFCC. Nuhu Ribadu should prove to
the world that his Commission has what it takes to fight corruption in
Nigeria so as to absolve the Commission from the selective justice it’s
being accused of. And this must be done with the same speed with which
he handled the case of the Vice President. The investigation should not
be another Bode George which would never see the light of the day.
Nuhu Shuaib
Zone 2, Wuse
Abuja
Federal Capital Territory
|