Fawehinmi Condemns Ruling In Favour Of Bankole

Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has condemned the ruling by an Abuja High Court on the N38 billion scam suit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission instituted against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Usman Nafada.

Reacting to the ruling which exonerated the two top politicians, Mohammed said in a statement yesterday: “The ruling delivered by the Abuja High Court pursuant to the 17-count charge proffered by the EFCC against the former Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, and the former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Bayero Nafada is shocking, absolutely unbelievable and the quickest form of encouragement in the enhancement of corruption in the National Assembly.

“The acts committed by the former Speaker and the former Deputy Speaker violate more than four (4) provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

“At least, two separate appeals apart from the substantive criminal appeal can emanate from this ruling which is a ‘Constitutional Aberration’. The suit itself is predicated upon enrichment while in office which we believe the judiciary should frown at.”

He added: “The charges and the decision given in response to the quashing of those charges should be x-rayed thoroughly by all lawyers in the country particularly the Attorney General of the Federation.

“The Judiciary is gradually gaining its sanity from the rot we recently experienced last year and for some years prior to that. The present Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher has started a judicious repackaging and reform that would earn the judiciary its more deserved respect.

“Section 15 (5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) is a key and instructive provision in the case, which states and I quote; ‘The state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’

“The acts which the former Speaker and his deputy committed point not only to its being a moral wrong, but a factual and legal wrong with evidence to substantiate the acts.”