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Nigeria fraud blacklist issued by police
Agency News
The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) released a list of senior politicians and businessmen are among more than 100 people as being unsuitable to run for political office. The Commission said those on the list were all being prosecuted for corruption.
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| Mrs. Waziri Farida, EFCC Boss |
The commission urged political parties not to endorse them as candidates in next year's elections. Notable among them is a former governor, Orji Kalu, who is running for the presidency but has been arraigned on 107 counts of fraud. He is accused of involvement in a fraud worth N5bn (£21m; $33m).
Politicians make up at least 40 people on the list, which the EFCC has published on its website. Thirteen are former state governors, five are former ministers, three are serving MPs, and two are serving senators.
The BBC's Caroline Duffield, in Abuja, says fraud charges are no barrier to standing in elections, and some of those named are already campaigning. But EFCC officials say that they believe those facing prosecution should not be endorsed as candidates.
The commission is appealing to political parties to select only "credible candidates" and not those on the list. It says many of the defendants are deliberately stalling their cases in court so that they will not be tried before the elections next year.
However in a related development, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party yesterday, said it would not undermine the judicial process by acting on the Economic and Financial Crimes advisory list on alleged corrupt politicians.
In a statement credited to its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said since it believed in the judicial process, only the courts could decide the fate of politicians on the list.
Alkali was reacting to an advisory published by a national daily on politicians and other prominent Nigerians with corruption cases.
The PDP had after a series of consultations with the EFCC asked for a list of its members with graft cases against them, with a view to stopping them from contesting elections in 2011. But apparently to douse the controversy generated on Monday by the advisory list, the PDP through Alkali, said, “Since we are not the court, it is not possible for us to pass judgment on whether somebody is guilty or not guilty.”
Alkali assured that whenever the list was formally made available to the PDP, it would “consult and discuss” at all levels, so that the judicial process and the the integrity of members of the party would not be undermined.
He said, “What is important is that even though the names are there on the advisory list, since we are not the court, it is not possible for us to pass judgment on whether somebody is guilty or not guilty.
“Today, we have been able to see in the papers full details of names of people they have indicated on their advisory list. We have been consistent in this party. We believe in the rule of law and in the constitution.
“We don’t believe in the abuse of the judicial process. So, we will not do anything that will undermine the judicial process or undermine the integrity of our members.
“We should be able to calm them down to let them know that the party will not go after their jugular, just like that. So, we want them to remain calm and continue with their normal activities as party men and leaders.
“What is important is that, whatever is going to be done with the party has to be done through thorough work.”
Describing the EFCC as a professional organisation, he assured that “whatever we do, we do it in tandem with what the law says.”
He recalled that the anti-graft agency and the PDP had agreed during their discussions that there was the need for the two parties “to work together in harmony so that the forthcoming general elections will be rancour-free and crisis-free.”
Orji Kalu reacting through the Director-General of his campaign office, Chief Willy Ezeugwu, said the list was an attempt by the Federal Government to intimidate the opposition.
Ezeugwu said, “We condemn, in strong terms, the arm-twisting tactics of the incumbent administration as demonstrated by the stifling of the opposition, using anti-corruption agencies that were originally meant to protect national interest.”
He added that the campaign office was appalled that Kalu’s name appeared on the list allegedly released by the EFCC.
“We believe the concept in Nigeria remains that of innocent until proven guilty. It is, therefore, unacceptable that Kalu’s name and those of other persons still on trial could be lumped together with the likes of former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, and former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, who have both been convicted by the court,” he added.
The Save Nigeria Group however differ on the its opinion, it said the publication of the advisory list was a welcome development, if the goal was to ensure that individuals convicted of corrupt practices were not allowed to contest the 2011 elections.
Mr. Yinka Odumakin, SNG spokesperson however noted that the group would not, however, support the move, if it was designed to suppress the opposition.
‘‘It is good and we support it. We support any effort to fight corruption. We also support that individual accused of corrupt practices should be statutorily tried before elections,” He said. “We will, however, not support any attempt to use the move as a tool to harass perceived political opponents as the 2011 elections approach.”
Nigeria militant's brother charged at 'secret hearing'
Charles Okah, brother of Nigerian oil militant Henry Okah, has been charged for the twin car bombing in which atleast 12 died in Abuja on 1 October, at a secret hearing in the capital.
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| Wreckage at the twin bomb blast in Abuja |
The BBC's Chris Ewokor in the capital, Abuja, says the defence lawyer was barred from the court proceedings.
Henry Okah was detained in South Africa after the blasts on 1 October and is facing terrorism charges.
Several other suspects, including Charles Okah's son Boloebi, were also escorted into the Abuja courtroom on Thursday morning.
Our reporter says lawyers and journalists had expected to be able to attend the hearing.
But all of a sudden, security agents blocked the entrance of the courtroom and would not allow anyone inside, he says.
"We were barred from entering the court premises by operatives of the State Security Services," Charles Okah's lawyer Ogheneovo Otemu told the BBC.
"The accused persons were arraigned before the court and they were not allowed to be represented by counsels of their choice, which is a very serious constitutional breach," he said.
Henry Okah has been attending bail hearings in Johannesburg this week
Our correspondent says it is not yet clear if they entered any plea while in court, but the charge sheet showed they are being accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy to commit a felony and a crime bordering on murder - punishable by life imprisonment.
After a 15-minute hearing, the suspects emerged from the courtroom, closely guarded by security agents, he says,
They were not allowed to speak to anyone, not even their lawyers, as they were hurriedly bundled back into the vehicles and driven away.
The men are due back in court on 24 November.
Henry Okah previously led militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), who say oil wealth must be used to benefit local residents.
