Falana Cautions Buhari Over Alleged Military Attack On Azibaola,Cousin To Former President Goodluck Jonathan

The attack on the property of a relation of former President Goodluck Jonathan by the military has continued to generate reactions.

 

Mr Femi Falana, a senior lawyer and human rights activist, is asking President Muhammadu Buhari to warn men of the country’s military after soldiers invaded the Abuja property of Robert Azibaola, Jonathan ‘s cousin. The property houses Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited owned by Azibaola, who had recently played host to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of criminal diversion of $40 billion. In a lengthy statement released Sunday, August 4, the senior lawyer said it was lamentable the way the troops stormed the company premises, seized the place and chased out workers. He warned that with such attacks, the federal government was given suspects the opportunity to win sympathy from the public.

Last Saturday, a platoon of armed soldiers led by an unnamed Army general invaded the premises of a company, Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited at Katampe in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. The property is said to be owned by Mr Robert Azibaola, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The troops who were reported to have driven away the workers in the premises have since seized the property without a court order. Sequel to the illegal action of the army of occupation the innocent workers in the company have been dispatched to the unemployment market. Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged Mr Azibaola to court for alleged criminal diversion of $40 million from the office of the National Security Adviser he pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been granted bail. The implication of the plea is that he is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the prosecution.

Therefore, if the Nigerian military authorities had wanted to dispossess him of the property in question they ought have applied for a court order. But by taking over the property under the pretext that it constitutes a threat to a nearby military barracks the military authorities took the law into their hands. The forceful seizure of the property should not be tolerated in a civilized society which operates under the rule of law.

Once again, we are compelled to advise the federal government to stop members of the armed forces to refrain from violating the rights of criminal suspects accused of engaging in the mega looting of the public treasury. By allowing the security forces to adopt Gestapo tactics in the recovery of the loot the Buhari administration stands the risk of winning undeserved sympathy for the criminal suspects who are standing trial. Indeed, the security forces are unwittingly colluding with corruption to fight back.