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Magu, Ozekhome clash at event over corruption war

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Ozekhome joins fight over Mrs Jonathan's $15m, challenges guilty plea of 4 companies

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, and constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome Tuesday clashed at an end of year event organised by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Magu and Ozekhome were special guests at the occasion that was used by the court to recognise and confer service awards on some of its recently retired staff.

Magu, speaking during the launch of a book containing selected judgments and rulings of retired Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, made a direct reference to Ozekhome, saying he had a responsibility to support the war against corruption in Nigeria.

The EFCC boss also maintained that judges of the Federal High Court, some of whom were in attendance from various divisions of the court across the federation, had a duty to complement government’s effort to rid the country of corruption.

Magu said, “Everybody here has a responsibility to fight corruption, even my friend here, Ozekhome. He has a responsibility to fight corruption.

“This is because corruption is a disaster in this country. I want to use this opportunity to call on you in every way to help us in the fight against corruption and together we will win. We are already winning.

“All we need is for you to help us in the fight against corruption”, the EFCC boss added.

But before he could drop the microphone, Ozekhome stood and indicated his intention to speak and was invited to the podium.

The lawyer who has been involved in several court cases against the EFCC, accused Magu of being selective in the anti-corruption war.

Ozekhome challenged Magu to prove him wrong by prosecuting any top official in the present administration, alleging that EFCC was only going after opposition politicians and those criticising the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He said judges should not be intimidated by the government and the EFCC, urging that they should not be afraid to do justice at all times without fear or favour.

Read also: IKOYIGATE: Buhari says ex-NIA boss Oke, others will be sanctioned

Ozekhome said, “Let me quickly make the point that the Federal High Court by virtue of its powers, is perhaps the most important court under section 6(6) of the 1999 constitution in terms of upholding the tenets of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered.

“Because of that Sirs, you must not waiver. It is a call of duty on you as representatives of God on earth. Do not be afraid of the blaring sirens of powers because at the end of the day you will be accountable to your God. Don’t be afraid of authorities, do justice.

“Some one or two people have referred to me. Let me acknowledge the presence of my good friend Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Most of you do not know, he is my personal friend. I have known him since the 90s when he was under former Chairman of EFCC, so we are very close friends”.

Looking directly at Magu, Ozekhome continued, “I want to assure you that all of us are engaged in fighting corruption, but like I have challenged you again and again before your very face up to March this year when you invited me to the anti-corruption seminar. “I said Mr. Magu, do us one favour, show us one person in the government, in your government that you docked, let Nigerians see that you are trying this one person!

“Then you would have achieved mileage in the fight against corruption. Just one example! Put a Minister, put the former SGF that has been indicted in the dock, just put one, then we will say you are serious and no longer selective.

“When you are selective in the fight against corruption and yet when you check your right its corruption. You treat the government with Sasorabia perfume and then fight opposition politicians and critics with insecticides, then you can’t be serious.

“When you seize a lawyer’s professional fees paid, you can’t be said to be fighting corruption.

“My lord Sirs, please be creative, do justice without fear or favour. Do what the Court of Appeal just did in the case of Justice Nganjiwa. That is a judgment that is proper, historic and should be celebrated. I support that judgment.

“A Judge should not be afraid to do his or her job. You should not be afraid, heavens will not fall. Soldiers come and go but barracks remain. Operatives of government come and go but government remains.

“Let us build strong institutions and not strong men”, Ozekhome concluded amid thunderous applause from other guests at the event, including retired and serving Judges.

Among those at the occasion were Justice Hyeladzira Ngajiwa whose corruption charge was recently quashed by the Court of Appeal in Lagos.

Also at the event was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ricky Tarfa who is also facing charges EFCC preferred against him over allegation that he offered bribe to a Judge.

In his speech, the Acting Chief Judge of the high court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, commended Judges he said took part in recent effort to decongest the court by disposing of high profile criminal and terrorism cases in Kainji.

“It is worthy to note that of the 1, 669 accused persons detained in Kainji, 50 were convicted, 59 had their cases struck out, 34 were adjourned to be heard in Abuja and Minna at the appropriate time, while 212 were released”, he added.

 

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