SARAKI: GROUP ACCUSES PRESIDENCY OF PLOT TO BLACKMAIL JUDICIARY

Senator Bukola Saraki

The Presidency has been accused of plotting to blackmail the Judiciary in its alleged desperation to prosecute former Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki, over allegations for which he had been cleared by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The allegation was made in Abuja yesterday by a group, the Society for Global Justice and Equity Promotion (SGJEP), headed by Elder Oluwole Akinboyewa.

Akinboyewa told journalists Wednesday that the AGF, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), had last year issued an advisory to the effect that there was no case against the ex-governor.

He added that Adoke’s advisory, a copy he made available, exonerated Saraki of alleged case of fraud, which men of the Police’s Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos claimed to have investigated.

He said Adoke, had reviewed the report of police investigation on the alleged of fraud against Saraki and had giv‎en the former governor a clean bill of health.
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He said there was no pending criminal charges against Saraki anywhere in the country.

He said the only pending case in court was the civil case instituted by Saraki before a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the police from harassing him.

“We have observed with concern, orchestrated plans by agents of the presidency, to cast aspersions on the judiciary over a civil case instituted by the former Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, against the police for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.”

“Last week, a body which tagged itself, ‘The Citizens Action for Equity and Justice’, a non-governmental organisation, came to the open and enlisted the media support to attack the judiciary especially a Federal High Court in Abuja for reason bordering on the inability of the court to deliver judgment in the civil matter filed by Saraki.”

“In the misleading newspaper publications they churned out, the body spoke of an imaginary money laundering charges against the person of Saraki by police while others simply queried the inability of the Federal High Court to give judgment on a fixed date and went haed to make some insinuations.”

“Using extraneous forces to intimidate, harass and cast aspersions on the judiciary is uncalled for and should be stopped in the interest of the country,” he said.

Akinboyewa said his group was motivated by the need to defend the Judiciary against unwarranted attack by some vested interests.

He argued that the harassment of the former governor by the presidency was as a result of his decision not to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.

“In spite of the letter from the AGF, they would not allow him (Saraki) to be because he chooses to follow his conscience and refuses to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid for the Presidency.”

“What did they do? They sent the police investigation report to the media but hid the AGF reports which said Bukola had done no wrong from the media.”

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right of citizens to hold opinions and belong to any association of their choice.”

“It is not an offence to hold opinions and belong to any association of their choice,” Akinboyewa said.

Source: THE WILL