It is undeniable that corruption in Nigeria has always been a free-for-all. The canker-worm has eaten so deep into the system that the citizenry no longer trusts those at the helms of affairs. Most are not alien to the effects of corruption in the country. Corruption definitely does not cause Coronavirus as Magu’s verbatim statement posits. It’s however more deadly; It has killed, it is killing and will continue to have a killing spree if not curtailed.
This gory aftermath of corruption is why every patriotic Nigerian should be happy when some of these looters are jailed. We should celebrate their incarceration. We should ask for more irrespective of political, tribal or religious colouration given to some of these verdicts.
The latest of such ‘minor-win’ for the people is that just dished out to the Former Peoples Democratic Party’s Spokesperson, Olisa Metuh. ‘Minor-win’ because punishments for corrupt officers should be more ‘brutal’. That could serve as a stiffer deterrent to up and coming ‘Politrickcians’ who wouldn’t be less corrupt than the present ones. To the present case, many, still wonder how Olisa Metuh will be jailed and Goodluck Jonathan never steps into a court premises for his own trial. If not for his own trial but to speak in Metuh’s trial. During one of Olisah Metuh’s court hearing, he was quoted as saying:
“As I am talking on oath before this court now, I can say categorically that Dasuki has not been interrogated, charged or convicted for any act relating to me and my company.
“The N400m was paid into my account by the then president and I did not conceal or disguise the money and it was not transferred out of jurisdiction”.
This definitely indicts the former President. It’s a simple case but as it has been widely rumoured, “the call” could have truly changed the narrative. To further ridicule Metuh’s trial, GEJ insisted on being paid a whooping billion naira to appear before the court. In a case of 400million money laundering, our presumed ‘big democracy lover’ requests 1billion naira to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel, from his home town Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, to Abuja, and also for logistics, and provision of tight security to cover any period of time that he might spend appearing before this court as President of Nigeria between 2010 and 2015.
Although the ex-President can easily claim to be unaware of the financial activities ongoing during his administration, even a political toddler in the Nigerian scene knows that such narration veils the truth. The money received by Metuh was authorized by Goodluck Jonathan, why then should the ex-president not be interrogated? Or has some other thing happened behind the scene?
Many questions are still begging for answers. The former President however justified his decision to steer clear of Olisa Metuh’s ordeal. In an affidavit filed by the ex-President, he asserted that “he (Jonathan ) as the then President of the Federal Republic (2010 – 2015 ), appointed ministers and different persons to carry out the day-to-day running of the government activities and such appointees are those who directly related with the President and not third parties, such as the 2nd respondent.
“That it is such appointees that can explain daily government’s transactions which they directly supervised and not the President who was the overall boss.
“That the 2nd respondent, Olisa Metuh, was never at any time a personal aide or appointee of the applicant.
“That he (Jonathan ) knows nothing about the seven charges for which the 1 st defendant/ 2 nd respondent is standing trial before this court and has absolutely nothing to testify about before this court.
Captiously perusing Jonathan’s defence, all that could be seen is that he ‘distanced himself from Metuh who was trying to ‘famz’ him at that point in time. GEJ wittingly implied that he barely knows Olisa Metuh and even oblivious of all his (Metuh) atrocities under his own administration. No one wishes to be dragged in the mud for corruption charges especially one who has gotten international accolades for ‘keeping Nigeria’s democracy alive’.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed that they are still looking into the funds that was used for the 2015 Presidential election and that all those who engaged in corrupt acts would be brought to justice. But how true is this? Only those who were not privilege to make ‘the call’ might be indicted eventually. Goodluck Jonathan’s call to President Buhari saved no one but him. However, it is a great progress that those who have milked the resources of Nigeria are eventually going to jail. More should go irrespective of political or tribal affiliations. Sadly however, one or two could be immune to indictment probably because they are still in bed with those calling the shots for EFCC. Metuh is in jail, many others should follow him – including our democratic icon, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who apparently called all the shots! You feel the same I believe?
