Tag: slam

Some lawyers yesterday berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for laying siege to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Arab, for the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Olawale Babalakin (SAN).

He is said to be recuperating in a private ward of the hospital, following the psychological trauma he reportedly suffered after his arrest by the EFCC.

The EFCC accused Babalakin of allegedly conspiring with former Delta State Governor James Ibori to launder about N4.7 billion belonging to the state.

Following the botched attempt to arraign him nine days ago, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo ordered the agency to verify at LUTH Babalakin’s state of health.

Lawyers, who decried EFCC’s action included a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Nwobike; human rights activist Jiti Ogunye and Emmanuel Majebi.

Nwobike described the action as abuse of power and violation of Babalakin’s right to life and medical care.

Babalakin’s counsel alleged on Wednesday that about 20 EFCC agents stormed the hospital and detained him in the ward.

Nwobike said: “I understand that the EFCC granted him administrative bail, which has not been vacated by the commission till date.

“I am also aware that the EFCC is aware that Babalakin is ill and is undergoing treatment at LUTH.

“So, it amounts to a breach of his right for the commission to disturb his treatment by laying siege to the hospital, thereby worsening his condition.

“The court has adjourned his arraignment till December 12, so the EFCC ought to have waited and see if he will appear in court or not.”

Nwobike said what the EFCC had done amounted to an abuse of power which should be condemned.

Ogunye said the EFCC may have a good reason for its action given past incidents when suspects feigned illness to evade arrest and prosecution.

He, however, cautioned the commission to act within the confines of the law.

Said he: “Babalakin was to be arraigned in court last week, but before this could be done, he went to court to file an action seeking a judicial review of the administered and executive powers of the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) and to prohibit the AGF, EFCC and the police from arresting him.

“ He was granted leave by the court.

“As this was taking place, his lawyers told the court that he has been hospitalised.

“While I don’t support security officials storming the hospital to disrupt treatment and recovery of a citizen.

“ I also won’t support anybody hiding under a false illness to evade the law.”

Majebi said: “As much as I don’t believe that anyone is above the law, I also don’t support or encourage tyranny.

“If Wale Babalakin is in the hospital, the EFCC should wait until he recovers before arresting and prosecuting him.”

THE Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the weekend citicised the Federal Government for paying the derivation fund accruable from disputed oil wells to Bayelsa State.

The ownership of the oil wells is a subject of contest between Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The traditional rulers said they were surprised that the derivation fund was paid to Bayelsa, even though the dispute has not been resolved.

In a statement after its Third Quarter General Meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the council, led by King G. N. Gininwa of Gbenemene Tai Kingdom, said: “We fail to see why, in the prevailing circumstance, the Federal Government should release funds accruable to these disputed oil wells to Bayelsa State, a party involved in the dispute.

“The council frowns at the wrongful ceding of oil wells belonging to Rivers to neighbouring Abia and Bayelsa states.”

The traditional rulers kicked against the “C” classification of Rivers in the ranking of flood ravaged states.

They said although they appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government in assisting flood victims in the state, Rivers should be classified as category “A” because the state suffered “great devastation”.

The monarchs bemoaned the slow pace of work on the East/West highway, which connects the oil bearing states of the Niger Delta.

They urged the Federal Government to complete the road in 2013, against the 2014 date announced by the Minister of the Niger Delta.

The monarchs advocated the recognition of the role of traditional rulers in the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution.

Leaders of opposition parties in Imo State have berated Governor Rochas Okorocha for closing public schools, government institutions and markets for his 50th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his foundation.

Last Monday, schools, ministries and markets were closed throughout the state to celebrate the governor’s birthday, the 10th anniversary of the Rochas Foundation and the graduation of over 1,000 pupils of the Rochas Foundation College.

Describing the situation as “an abnormal setting”, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, said the state had never witnessed such display of power and wastage of public funds.

The party scribe alleged that “the state is in the firm grip of a lawless and unstructured government”.

According to him, closing down economic activities and approving three days’ public holiday to celebrate a birthday was an act of intimidation against the governed.

Amajirionwu said: “There was an unprecedented buying of air time on Television and Radio with people’s money.”

The Imo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), through its Secretary, Mr. Christian Oguoma, said: “It amounts to misplacement of priority for the state government to be throwing a multi-million naira birthday bash while over 500,000 residents, who were displaced by ravaging floods, are still sleeping under the trees at the mercy of the weather.”

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Chairman, Vitalis Ajumbe, chided the governor for closing down government institutions to celebrate his birthday and the anniversary of his private institution.

He said: “Where in the world are governors shutting down their states to celebrate birthday parties? This is waste of public funds. He (Okorocha) should be reminded that government is not run as a private business.”

The Southeast Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Comrade Uzor A. Uzor, described the elaborate birthday celebration as “unacceptable and unbecoming of a public servant who should be accountable to the people the elected him to manage their common wealth”.