Whose agenda would it be to cripple the EFCC and ICPC? Who would benefit? Why would the first major outing by Nigeria’s Minister for Justice have created the impression, that he was set to give corrupt public officials, some sorts of get-out-of-jail cards?
 
There have been spate of conflicting messages from key cabinet officials. It is understandable that our new president, Umaru YarAdua has been taking tentative steps in forays into national issues. Any new president probably would. This is why t is quite understandable as well, that Nigerians, despite our long-suffering, have offered a sorts of honeymoon to President Yar’Adua since his inauguration on May 29, 2007.
 
However, our president should be careful not to allow mischief makers with ulterior motives, to misrepresent him on crucial public policy issues or hijack his government.
 
President Yar’Adua must stem the discordant and cacophonous voices emanating from our federal government, courtesy of some of his appointees, who are, it seems, to be acting at cross-purposes, with the president, misstating his set agenda. Recent comments and pronouncements by presidential appointees are baffling; further unnecessary goofs and gaffes must be avoided or minimized.
 
Careless public statement by senior presidential appointees can quickly undermine a president, even a president with good intentions and good plans for Nigeria. Some of us are beginning to wonder about certain appointees. Presidential appointees must create the appearance, in words and actions, that they are focused on Nigeria’s national interests
 
It was humbling to watch the general uproarious reactions from Nigerians that greeted the comments by the attorney general regarding the EFCC. A newspaper editorial went further to question the judgment and ethics, which informed the attorney general’s comments regarding the EFCC. There will be no castrating and manacling of the EFCC.
 
Personally, in view of recent presidential actions, I also have had to wonder aloud, whether the attorney general gave good legal advice to our president regarding his well-publicized meeting with ex-governors, ex-governors, who are indicted and currently facing trial for pillaging, plundering and looting Nigeria’s public wealth. Corrupt enrichments for the selfish benefits of the ex-governors. It is unwise and ill-advised for our president to have met with those who are awaiting criminal trials. Why meet with ex-governors who are facing trial? What is the benefit of these sorts of meeting? Why meet with the indicted?
 
Amnesty International recently released a report in connection with the appalling conditions in Nigeria’s prisons and detention centers. Nigerians actually did not need Amnesty International to remind us of the decrepit and fetid conditions of prisons and detention centers in Nigeria. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had a direct personal experience in the abject and squalid conditions in which detainees in Nigeria must live. As a result, as president of Nigeria, he established a prison decongestion commission. And now, we must ask, where are the recommendations or report of that commission? When will these reports and recommendations be implemented to ameliorate and alleviate the pungent conditions in which detainees in Nigeria are compelled to live?
 
It seems to me that the appalling squalid and pungent conditions endured by detainees in Nigeria, should concern Nigeria’s new attorney general and minister for justice. Further, it would seem that the attorney general and minister for justice would need to establish his self-proclaimed avowal as champion of the rule of law, with policies that will improve the conditions in prisons and detention centers in Nigeria.
 
Additionally, the attorney general must seek to establish his credentials as a rule of law champion, by establishing rules that would prevent needless detentions of persons in Nigeria. Currently, there are tens of thousands of Nigerians in prison cells and detention centers, and an overwhelming majority of these detainees are, “Awaiting Trials” most of these persons, are clearly innocents, who have been picked up by law enforcement agencies without justifications, if at all, for flimsy “reasons”
 
The attorney general and minister of justice, appears self-interested in the well-being of the upper class Nigerians. As he is obviously fixated on welfare of the ex-governors who are currently facing trials, and how longer, than 48 hours these looters may be detained by the EFCC. He is, in doing so, reaffirming Nigeria as a class conscious society with attendant social stratifications, in the most negative ways. The poor are punished for being poor!
 
How is it that the self-proclaimed champion for the rule of law, the new attorney general, has not publicly placed his prison decongestion policies for national debate?
 
How is it that the attorney general has not bothered to articulate his thoughts and policy responses, to the well publicized appalling conditions in Nigerian prisons and detention centers?
 
Why has the attorney general and minister of justice not asked himself and supply the reasons why the average detainee in Nigeria spends more than 48 hours in detention?
Why has the attorney general and minister of justice not asked why Nigeria has so many “Awaiting Trials” detainees? Why does the attorney general seem to reserve his tears for looters and their prospects of being in prisons or detention centers for more than 48 hours? Why is he not similarly verbose and garrulous in worries about poor detainees?
 
 
Is the concern for rich thieves, rich criminals, rich treasury looters the AG’s motivation?
Is the protection of the corruptly rich, the attorney general’s rule of law postulations?
Is this, the concern that is driving the attorney general’s botched attempt to cripple the EFCC? Nigerians should inform the attorney general that we have No Tears for Looters!
 
There were newspaper reports a few days ago, to the effect, that some presidential aides were meeting privately, in far away London, churning out deals, that would revive the business empires of the Chagouri brothers in Nigeria. All this, without the approval or knowledge of the president! If these press reports are true, we will have to ask; What sorts of cabals surround our president?
 
While it will be unfair to blame President Yar’Adua for the transgressions of his errant appointees, it must be clear to our president, that the buck stops with him. As the successes and challenges of his administration will be his legacy and his legacy alone.
 
President Yar’Adua must therefore be mindful of who he appoints, what his appointees stands for ideologically, politically and what their general dispositions are.
 
So far, some presidential appointees in these first few months of President Yar’Adua’s administration, seem to be creating first impressions that lasts. Negative first impressions could imperil the image and reputation of President Yar’Adua. The president must therefore assert his presidential authority, unfettered. He must put his stamp of authority on public policies. Loyalty to the nation, Nigeria’s national interests in the agenda or script of our current president must be the guiding principle of presidential appointees in their utterances.
 
Presidential image makers must actively seek to properly present our president and his agenda on the issues. Public presentations, pronouncements and utterances must be rigorously coordinated. Cabinet officers, presidential appointees and presidential aides must all stay on the message. Everyone must observe restraints and avoid gaffes and goofs that do not serve this president well and invariably, Nigeria’s national interests.
 
Anyone in the presidency, who chose to disregard coordinated and cohesive public presentations of presidential policies and programs, should be yanked from their position.
Those who are incapable of necessary and requisite restraints, incapable, either out of indiscipline, greed or mischief, must be removed from their positions now; such removal must be undertaken, in this early stage of the presidency of President Yar’Adua.
 
The time to create good first impressions is now, lasting positive impressions in these early stages, would help to establish President Yar’Adua’s image and reputation. Any appointee whose actions and words, in public pronouncements or utterances, are inconsistent with this, must be compelled to depart from President Yar’Adua’s team. President Yar’Adua needs our support to succeed, as does Nigeria.

Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States

Robot  Villager

# 1 Amnesty International recently released a report in connection with the appalling conditions in N...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 22.08.2007 01:54

I Love Nigeria  Villager

# 2 Who's In Charge of Nigeria? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who's in charge of Nigeria? Is UMYA really capable of calling the shots? Does the buck really stop at his table? Can someone...anyone tell me what is really going on? First it was the embarassing self-reversal regarding the affairs of EFCC. Then, it was the public denial of not knowing about the CBN's plans to redenominate/recalibrate our Naira! The Chief of Army Staff openly tells his Defence minister that the Army is ill-equipped to handle the crisis in Port-Harcourt! Now, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) is openely saying that states may no longer receive their monthly revenues in dollars as announced recently by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Accoriding to the AGF, Mr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC) of which he is secretary was not aware of any such plans. If this is true, it amounts to yet another major policy reversal! All these happenings within one month?!!!!!! And then, in the thick of all this, it's transpired that our darling madam speaker appropriated over half a billion naira (although she is insisting it is 'only' 232 million naira) to renovate her (and her deputy's) official residence!!! For goodness sakes, what the heck is going on????!!!!!!! DW __________________ "The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." - Steve Biko -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last edited by DoubleWahala : Today at 04:50 AM. Double Wahala posted the above in the Main Thread section of the NVS and I thought it relevant to the substance of this article. Posted by I Love Nigeria| 22.08.2007 07:30

ikechiji  Villager

# 3 Let me first start with a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji: “Consequently, all government agencies fighting corruption, money laundering, child trafficking and other crimes are expected to perfect their modus operandi and ensure that they operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them, and, more importantly, in deference to relevant constitutional provisions." How can telling agencies to "operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them" be a misplaced priority? Profilic writer and Attorney-at-Law Paul Adujie now wants the new A-G to make prison decongestion a priority! In the previous 8 years that your godfather OBJ was in power, where did Paul Adujie call for prison reforms? OBJ experienced Nigerian prisons first-hand. You claim he set up a prison decongestion commission. He did squat for prison reforms in the 8 years he was in power. And now you want the new A-G who is not even in charge of the Nigerian Prisons Service to champion prison reforms? Give me a break! The issue of people spending years in jail while awaiting trial is IMHO a gross violation of their fundamental rights. The courts not A-G are ultimately more responsible for this. The courts ultimately dictate the trial calendar. If you have 1 judge per 10000 people awaiting trial and the courts claim they do not have enough judges, how do you expect the new A-G to even suggest a remedy the situation without thoroughly studying the situation on the ground and dialoguing with all the relevant stakeholders. The solution to the delayed justice problem in Nigeria should be based on hard facts, not rush-to-the-press statements. Odego Posted by ikechiji| 22.08.2007 08:41

I Love Nigeria  Villager

# 4 I have for several years acted for free, representing indigent defendants in Nigerian courts, just so, the would not remain in prisons/detention centers awaiting trial endlessly. The assertion above are verifiable. Secondly, I have for several years, (including while President Obasanjo administered Nigeria) written published opinions regarding the unacceptable conditions in our prisons and what I thought any and every government ought to do about them. Thirdly, the new attorney general and minister of justice complained that the EFCC detained some ex-governors over 48 hours. In my instant article, I have argued that.... that should be a universal concern for all detainees in Nigeria... and not just the exclusive preserves of ex-governors and high profile detainees in Nigeria. AND, your response is that the attorney general is not in-charge of Nigerian Prisons? Or the needs to consult staker holders first? So why did he speak before thinking and consulting or before consulting stakeholders/ Just do a search and you will discover that my concerns are not new. http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/board/articles-comments/32585-national-disgrace-awaiting-trial-prisoners.html http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=prison+conditions+in+Nigeria+and+awaiting+trials+Adujie&btnG=Google+Search http://www.google.com/search?q=prison+conditions+in+Nigeria++Adujie&btnG=Search&hl=en Thank you Mr. Fred Igbeare , for highlighting this …. All important issue, of Nigerian citizens who are in Nigerian prisons without trial… and endlessly so… thanks for bringing this all important subject matter to our attention. WHAT A COINCIDENT OR CONVERGENCE OF EVENTS? Quote: This was posted yesterday as well:Written by Paul Adujie Wednesday, 29 November 2006 http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...w-due-pro.html Is the NBA unaware of the putrid conditions in Nigerian Prisons? Is the NBA aware that our constitution imposes a limitation on how long a Nigerian could be held without trial? (A true violation of the rule of law and due process to be held without trial) Especially in detentions without electricity, water, air or food! There seem to be some type of conspiracy against the poor in Nigeria OR why is it that the Nigeria Bar Association frequently embark on nationwide strike in the name of the rule of law and due process as it affect corrupt looting governors who get impeachment notices from the EFCC? But the same NBA never embarks on ANY meaning action on behalf of our fellow citizens who are detained without trial in fetid and putrid conditions? Why does The Guardian Editorial Board expend its time praising the Attorneys General of our thirty-six states for meeting in Benin City to talk about the rule of law and due process, ONLY in particular reference to “the gale of impeachment of governors”? Curiously, these 36 Attorneys General of our states, just happens to be appointees of the 36 states governors… some of whom, just also happen to be the target of the EFCC, the EFCC that is being maligned for doing its constitutional duties I wish that I am the Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria I will not loose a night sleep over the deliberations and resolutions of 36 Attorneys General, who wasted valuable time, in their efforts to protect their employers, (the state governors) some of whom have pillaged and plundered Nigeria. Hence some of them are getting the consequences of their looting and thieving activities…. Visits from Mallam Ribadu and his EFCC staff! Posted by I Love Nigeria| 22.08.2007 09:10

tonsoyo  Villager

# 5 =I Love Nigeria;201655>I have for several years acted for free, representing indigent defendants in Nigerian courts, just so, the would not remain in prisons/detention centers awaiting trial endlessly. The assertion above are verifiable. Secondly, I have for several years, (including while President Obasanjo administered Nigeria) written published opinions regarding the unacceptable conditions in our prisons and what I thought any and every government ought to do about them. Thirdly, the new attorney general and minister of justice complained that the EFCC detained some ex-governors over 48 hours. In my instant article, I have argued that.... that should be a universal concern for all detainees in Nigeria... and not just the exclusive preserves of ex-governors and high profile detainees in Nigeria. AND, your response is that the attorney general is not in-charge of Nigerian Prisons? Or the needs to consult staker holders first? So why did he speak before thinking and consulting or before consulting stakeholders/ Just do a search and you will discover that my concerns are not new. http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/board/articles-comments/32585-national-disgrace-awaiting-trial-prisoners.html http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=prison+conditions+in+Nigeria+and+awaiting+trials+Adujie&btnG=Google+Search http://www.google.com/search?q=prison+conditions+in+Nigeria++Adujie&btnG=Search&hl=en Thank you Mr. Fred Igbeare , for highlighting this …. All important issue, of Nigerian citizens who are in Nigerian prisons without trial… and endlessly so… thanks for bringing this all important subject matter to our attention. WHAT A COINCIDENT OR CONVERGENCE OF EVENTS? Quote: This was posted yesterday as well:Written by Paul Adujie Wednesday, 29 November 2006 http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...w-due-pro.html Is the NBA unaware of the putrid conditions in Nigerian Prisons? Is the NBA aware that our constitution imposes a limitation on how long a Nigerian could be held without trial? (A true violation of the rule of law and due process to be held without trial) Especially in detentions without electricity, water, air or food! There seem to be some type of conspiracy against the poor in Nigeria OR why is it that the Nigeria Bar Association frequently embark on nationwide strike in the name of the rule of law and due process as it affect corrupt looting governors who get impeachment notices from the EFCC? But the same NBA never embarks on ANY meaning action on behalf of our fellow citizens who are detained without trial in fetid and putrid conditions? Why does The Guardian Editorial Board expend its time praising the Attorneys General of our thirty-six states for meeting in Benin City to talk about the rule of law and due process, ONLY in particular reference to “the gale of impeachment of governors”? Curiously, these 36 Attorneys General of our states, just happens to be appointees of the 36 states governors… some of whom, just also happen to be the target of the EFCC, the EFCC that is being maligned for doing its constitutional duties I wish that I am the Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria I will not loose a night sleep over the deliberations and resolutions of 36 Attorneys General, who wasted valuable time, in their efforts to protect their employers, (the state governors) some of whom have pillaged and plundered Nigeria. Hence some of them are getting the consequences of their looting and thieving activities…. Visits from Mallam Ribadu and his EFCC staff! ILN, The present NBA Executive as constituted is a complete sell-out. Olisa Agbakoba who I used to respect a lot, now thinks that his personal opinions are laws and speak the mind of the Nigerian lawyers. I say NOOOOOOO. Posted by tonsoyo| 22.08.2007 09:31

tonsoyo  Villager

# 6 =ikechiji;201648>Let me first start with a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji: “Consequently, all government agencies fighting corruption, money laundering, child trafficking and other crimes are expected to perfect their modus operandi and ensure that they operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them, and, more importantly, in deference to relevant constitutional provisions." How can telling agencies to "operate within the precinct and ambit of the laws establishing them" be a misplaced priority? Profilic writer and Attorney-at-Law Paul Adujie now wants the new A-G to make prison decongestion a priority! In the previous 8 years that your godfather OBJ was in power, where did Paul Adujie call for prison reforms? OBJ experienced Nigerian prisons first-hand. You claim he set up a prison decongestion commission. He did squat for prison reforms in the 8 years he was in power. And now you want the new A-G who is not even in charge of the Nigerian Prisons Service to champion prison reforms? Give me a break! The issue of people spending years in jail while awaiting trial is IMHO a gross violation of their fundamental rights. The courts not A-G are ultimately more responsible for this. The courts ultimately dictate the trial calendar. If you have 1 judge per 10000 people awaiting trial and the courts claim they do not have enough judges, how do you expect the new A-G to even suggest a remedy the situation without thoroughly studying the situation on the ground and dialoguing with all the relevant stakeholders. The solution to the delayed justice problem in Nigeria should be based on hard facts, not rush-to-the-press statements. Odego Ikechiji, You are still getting this wrong. Nobody is pushing this AG to do wonders in two months. He was the one that came out that he wants the rule of law to be respected, people started quering why that has to start with EFCC, a commission that prosecute the pen-robbers and powerful treasury looters that represnts less than 1% of the total cases of illegal detention rather than the Nigerian Police Force, the body that is responsible for about 99% of these cases and the serial violator. Even if he was sincere, he got his priorities wrong. How can he achieve anything on the long run when his priorities are misplaced? Posted by tonsoyo| 22.08.2007 09:38

ikechiji  Villager

# 7 @ILN - Your previous comments about prison reform were directed at the NBA, an organization you felt was opposing your Baba-in-Chief. Why did you not direct those comments to the Federal A-G since you think it should be an A-G priority not NBA's? @Tonsoyo - You do not get my point. In the case of EFCC, ICPC, CofC, he could write a memo because he felt those agencies were under his supervision and he was talking about illegal operations by those agencies. The case of judicial/prison reforms go beyond the A-G to the Courts, NPF, etc. The A-G would have been out-of-line to write a similar memo to the NPF or Courts. Posted by ikechiji| 22.08.2007 09:54

tonsoyo  Villager

# 8 =ikechiji;201671>@ILN - Your previous comments about prison reform were directed at the NBA, an organization you felt was opposing your Baba-in-Chief. Why did you not direct those comments to the Federal A-G since you think it should be an A-G priority not NBA's? @Tonsoyo - You do not get my point. In the case of EFCC, ICPC, CofC, he could write a memo because he felt those agencies were under his supervision and he was talking about illegal operations by those agencies. The case of judicial/prison reforms go beyond the A-G to the Courts, NPF, etc. The A-G would have been out-of-line to write a similar memo to the NPF or Courts. Good to hear the bolded part from you. Then why didn't he just write a memo to the EFCC, ICPC & co and then consult with the President regarding the NPF. He just did exactly the opposite of what you said! Remember he DID NOT write memo to the EFCC, but went to the President to seek control. The question still remains why he tried to subjugate EFCC, a smaller fry in the violation of rule of law rather than take issue with the Police? Posted by tonsoyo| 22.08.2007 10:15

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 9 Barrister Paul, I can understand your disappointment that you were not the Attorney General. That explains your obvious castigation of a fellow colleague for doing what is obviously right. I believe you would prefer an EFCC that is left unchecked to trample on people's rights with impunity on the excuse of fighting corruption. The new AG has refused to tow such line and as such he should be commended. Ikechiji has said the prisons and its conditions fall within the supervisory area of the minister of the interior, and that is the truth of the matter. If that minister feels there should be new laws to make the prison better, he can seek the assistance of the AG in formulating such new rules. That a former inmate turned president could not do anything in his eight years of misrule should concern you more than an AG that is barely two months old in office. And FYI it is not the role of the AG to advice the President on which visitor to receive in his office. In actual fact, the AG was not defending the corrupt politicians as you allege. He was only trying to bring the EFCC, ICPC, CCB to tow line of civility and rule of law. If Obasanjo had started the implementation of the prison reforms, it would have been easier for the new government to continue, but he did nothing thereby leaving the new AG no option but to study the document first before implementing what he did not initiate. On the whole, your article drips of regret and unjustified anger against a man that is just doing his job. Posted by Mikky jaga| 22.08.2007 12:02

DoubleWahala  Villager

# 10 Prison decongestion aside, why is NOBODY writing about the discordiant tunes emanating from government officials? Or is that supposed to be a non-issue? DW Posted by DoubleWahala| 22.08.2007 15:24

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