insists allegations against Bashiru Ajibola genuine,
tells police to stay off case before EFCC.
By Richard Akintade,
A clarion call has gone to the judiciary against granting injunction to the immediate past Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ajibola Bashiru.
A right activist and Chairman of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS), Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman made this call in a statement personally signed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo the state capital on Friday.
Ajibola Bashiru who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun Central District at the forthcoming general election is seeking a court order to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating him over allegation of acquiring illegally, properties worth over N2.2 billion while serving in the state as a commissioner.
The group who had initially written a petition to the anti-graft agency detailing the series of illegal acts that were committed by Ajibola while in office stated this at a press conference he personally addressed at the group’s office in Ikeja Lagos on Thursday by Sulaiman.
According to Sulaiman, the judicial arm of government should refrain from granting such order to a person under investigation by the anti- graft agency (EFCC) over corrupt practices, adding that doing so would usurp the functions of EFCC whom he claimed was doing its constitutionally assigned role of investigating graft in the country.
Sulaiman added that should the court go ahead to grant the order, such action would amount to an abuse of judicial process just as it would also negate the anti-corruption posture of President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.
On the resolve of the group, Sulaiman stated that “The group would not hesitate to drag any judge or magistrate found to have compromised his position by granting any ‘Jankara’ order to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and all the anti-graft agencies for proper investigation as we suspect foul play in the latest antics of Ajibola Bashiru who is trying to wriggle out of the monumental allegation of sleeze.”
The activist’s alarm is coming against insinuation in some quarters suggesting that the ex- commissioner had concluded arrangement to approach the law court with a view to preventing the anti-corruption body from investigating him over sundry allegations of acquiring choice properties across the country through public funds.
“We have since discovered that he has enlisted the services of some unscrupulous elements in the judiciary to subvert and derail the current investigative efforts of the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies.
“We have also discovered that he is working with some criminal elements in the police force to achieve the same aim but we are waiting. We wish to inform Nigerians that Ajibola Bashiru is trying to use his position as a former chief law officer of the state to subvert the law and we are watching him.” The activist stated.
Sulaiman, insisted that all the allegations contained in the group’s petition to the EFCC were nothing but the truth, urging the EFCC to conduct its investigation without fear or favour just as he said he has more incriminating document against the APC senatorial candidate.
According to Sulaiman, approaching the law court for a ‘jankara’ injunction has shown that the Ajibola Bashiru have something to hide from the public regarding the allegation hence his recourse to the judiciary for reprieve.
He stressed that the group would not fold its arm and watch any individual or group of individuals cart away the resources of Osun or any other state meant for development under the guise of serving the state as a political office holder.
According to the group; “Mr. Ajibola Bashiru should allow the EFCC to do its statutory function of investigating financial crimes in Nigeria and in Osun State in particular, saying anything apart from that means he has something to hide.
“Mr. Bashiru as a lawyer should know that he remains innocent of all the allegations that have been levelled against him until the EFCC concludes its investigations against him and that subsequent prosecution in the court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise.
“Our Judiciary as respected arm of government and last hope of the common man should not be allowed to be dragged into the mud by any individual no matter how highly placed in the society.” He said.
Concluding the stated that “It is our collective resolution to expose corrupt practices no matter whose ox is gored and as well kill corruption in our society and we are also ready to defend the tenets of democracy which Judiciary serves as one of the pillars.
“The rate of official corruption, perpetrated by officials of the immediate administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in the state were too numerous to be ignored and it had caused a lot of setback for the State and as a result, many lives were lost.” He concluded.
Meanwhile, all efforts made by our Correspondent to get Mr Bashiru Ajibola on phone for the clarification proved abortive as he ignored the calls
