Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday urged
President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those criticising the arrest and detention
of a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; the Chairman of Daar
Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; and other suspects in the alleged $2.1bn
arms purchase fraud.
President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those criticising the arrest and detention
of a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; the Chairman of Daar
Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; and other suspects in the alleged $2.1bn
arms purchase fraud.
Falana, in a statement on Sunday, faulted the allegations by
some lawyers that the order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission from a magistrate’s court to detain some of the suspects for 14 days
had no legal basis.
some lawyers that the order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission from a magistrate’s court to detain some of the suspects for 14 days
had no legal basis.
He explained that the order of detention obtained from the
magistrate’s court, through an ex parte application, was in strict compliance
with the provisions of sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act. He added that the suspects were at liberty to ask for bail under
the law.
magistrate’s court, through an ex parte application, was in strict compliance
with the provisions of sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act. He added that the suspects were at liberty to ask for bail under
the law.
“As corruption is already mobilising to fight back, the
Buhari administration should ignore the reckless campaign of calumny of certain
people, who have lost their sense of shame,” Falana said.
Buhari administration should ignore the reckless campaign of calumny of certain
people, who have lost their sense of shame,” Falana said.
He noted that as far as the said critics were concerned,
“the suspects should be left alone to enjoy their loot while soldiers are
losing their precious lives due to lack of adequate weapons”.
“the suspects should be left alone to enjoy their loot while soldiers are
losing their precious lives due to lack of adequate weapons”.
The senior advocate urged the Federal Government to open a
dedicated account for the warehousing of recovered loot, which he advised,
should be used to provide equipment for the Armed Forces and take care of
pressing public needs.
dedicated account for the warehousing of recovered loot, which he advised,
should be used to provide equipment for the Armed Forces and take care of
pressing public needs.
Falana added, “The anti-graft agencies should disregard the
cheap blackmail, speed up the investigation and charge all indicted suspects to
court while the courts are enjoined to conduct the trial of the suspects under
the ACJA, which requires that the trials be conducted day by day.
cheap blackmail, speed up the investigation and charge all indicted suspects to
court while the courts are enjoined to conduct the trial of the suspects under
the ACJA, which requires that the trials be conducted day by day.
“The Federal Government should open a dedicated account to
warehouse the recovered loot with a view to using the fund to provide equipment
for the Armed Forces, create jobs for our Army of unemployed graduates and fix
our dilapidated public schools, hospital and roads,” part of the statement
read.
warehouse the recovered loot with a view to using the fund to provide equipment
for the Armed Forces, create jobs for our Army of unemployed graduates and fix
our dilapidated public schools, hospital and roads,” part of the statement
read.
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