From Fred Itua, Abuja
Few days after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Mr. Ahmed Idris the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), in connection with an alleged diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80billion, fresh facts have emerged that more officials might soon be picked up by the anti-graft agency.
According to the anti-graft agency, investigation showed that the AGF raked in the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities, using proxies, family members and close associates. The funds, according to EFCC, were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
Mr. Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts. A competent source in EFCC who pleaded not to be named, told Saturday Sun that more staff, highly-placed persons and other interested government officials involved in the financial heist, will be arrested soon.
The source said what the public knows is a scratch on the surface compared to what further investigation by the anti-graft agency has so far revealed. He said the AGF was due for retirement about two years ago, but was reportedly extended by the presidency, despite the clear violation of the civil service rule.
The source said through a clandestine move, Idris used many pseudo names to invest in and outside of Nigeria. He wondered how a public officer who should catch thieves, has now become the thief. He listed United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and other Scandinavian countries, where the Idris starched the funds as investments. The EFCC source said the agency has already commenced moves to recover some of the assets, while reaching out to countries suspected to he harbouring some of the looted funds. He said when investigations are concluded, Idris will be charged to court. The source said Idris is working with operatives to bring a closure to the issue.
Meanwhile, fresh facts have emerged that the Senate committee on Public Accounts’ negligence and compromise to properly supervise the AGF’s office, may have led to the financial sleaze.
By law, the Senate committee is constitutionally mandated to supervise activities of the AGF’s office. However, the committee headed by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, has repeatedly failed to hold Idris to account.
The law requires that the office of the AGF submits an audit report to the Senate committee on Public Accounts. The Senate committee, by law, is expected to carry out a comprehensive verification of claims made in the report by the AGF’s office.
However, the committee, in the last seven years, has failed to comprehensively perform this role. It has also failed to present a report to the Senate for a proper deliberation and therefore, a position on financial malfeasance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). With the new revelation and arrest of the AGF by EFCC, there are fears that the Senate leadership may tinker with the leadership of the committee for optimal performance. Senate sources said the issue will he extensively debated when the Senate reconvenes in June, after the primaries of political parties.
According to President Muhammad Buhari “Corruption will Kill Us, If We did not Kill corruption”
The legislation which established EFCC clarified true legal definition of all related economy and financial crimes and its punishment therein while fundamental legal procedure allowed all the suspects of financial and economy crime to defend themselves in court of law upon their crime of Corruption which undoubtedly are KILLING Millions of Nigerians by rendered them to an unwarranted economy hardship, sufferness and physical, emotional and psychological insecurity in an atmosphere of Fear, Sorrow and Tears characterized by political and economical instabilities of total LAWLESSNESS.
Now Why are the suspects of financial and economy crime are not Victims of JUNGLE JUSTICE despite the crime had been clearly defined by law? Because their crimes and its socioeconomy consequences had sent teeming Nigerians to sudden death while many were in an agony of hopelessness however who really deserved JUNGLE JUSTICE in this kind of SICK SOCIETY called Nigeria?
Although JUNGLE JUSTICE in all its names are barbaric as far as civilization is concerns but the alarming records of JUNGLE JUSTICE in the names of religious belief, unjustified accusations of theft and total lawlessness in a manner which truly rendered Nigeria as JUNGLE.
In a Country where there is No legislation which statutory defined Blasphemy and its punishment therein still the suspects been killed extra judicially called JUNGLE JUSTICE while these ugly situation created Fear all over the country as well raised questions of WHAT IS BLASPHEMY? This situations still raised questions of IS NIGERIA TRULY A RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATED SOCIETY?
Blasphemy must be Legally defined through legislation where the Intention of the accuser, the medium I.e Libel or Slander, Is The accuser under Duress or undue influence and above all the Mental state of the accuser all must determined the gravity of the punishment which only Court of competence jurisdiction can decides.
The so called Lawyers openly interested in defending the alleged Killers of Late DEBORAH and other members of the public openly supporting Jungle justice should as a matter of civilization not a matter of JUNGLE even SAUDI ARABIC that fully practices Sharia does not applied JUNGLE JUSTICE not only on matters of Blasphemy but all matters of crimes.
In 2010 a South African Pastor in his Sunday Church sermon Says ” JESUS WAS HIV” This statement causes so much criticism with Christian community in South Africa and the World because they undoubtedly interpreted the statements as Blasphemy of JESUS, This ugly situation made BBC to invited The Pastors and representative of other Christian denominations for dialogue on the very sensitive matters of Blasphemy of JESUS in the panel The Pastor theological intention of Saying JESUS WAS HIV mainly is to reduced the stigmatization of HIV victims in South Africa while other representative pastors agreed with his theological intention but says Using HIV as disease or sickness still a Blasphemy so it would better if He says JESUS has Cancer or TB Therefore if the Pastor was killed by JUNGLE JUSTICE would the societies known His theological intention? Would his case be a lessons for other peoples?
If late Deborah allowed to be trial there will be many societal lessons from the trial as well as be a platform for Mutual respect between CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIMS in Nigeria above all promote interreligious understanding and respect as prevention of possible related case of Blasphemy because Her case exposed some Nigerians as educated Illiterate as well rendered them as FOOL just because there is No legal definition of Blasphemy doesn’t mean they would be Saying calling JESUS A PROPHET is also Blasphemy or Not calling JESUS GOD is also Blasphemy.
NIREC as a body on Interreligious matter requird legal backing on its primary responsibility because in as much as the societies whom are dying everyday as a result of Corruption while President Buhari whom confirmed that Corruption will Kill Us and it has been killing Us granted convicted Former Governors on Corruption charges National Pardon of which these corrupt Peoples are not victims of JUNGLE JUSTICE definitely Nigerians does not deserve to be dying under the watch of NIREC all in the name of religious Blasphemy which is not statutory defined.