Justice Ademola, Orubebe, Patience Jonathan: ‘FG prosecutions just vendetta’

Divergent views yesterday trailed Federal Government’s loss of four different alleged corruption cases before four different courts of law within a week. The four cases included the unfreezing of the law office bank accounts of Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, acquittal of a former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe by an Abuja High Court; acquittal of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, his wife, Olabowale and their family lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN) and the unfreezing of the bank account of the Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Reacting to the developments, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Dr. Abdul Mahmud and Wahab Olatoye, in a different interviews with our reporter chided the Federal Government over its anti-graft policies.

For Ozekhome, the EFCC had earlier obtained an order via motion exparte freezing his chambers bank on allegation that it contained N75 million be lieved to have been paid by the Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. The said sum was further alleged to be part of the arms deal fund given to Fayose. For Justice Ademola and two others, the Federal Government slammed an 18 count charge on them bothering on alleged giving and receiving of gratification and illegal possession of fire arms.

Orubebe was charged with alleged diversion of N1.97 billion, while about 5.9 USD found in Patience bank account was alleged to be proceeds of crime. However, in less than a week, all the cases were thrown out by the various courts with a note of caution passed on the prosecuting agency. But reacting to the development, Ozekhome said the EFCC had shown itself to be an expert in procuring cheap ex-parte injunctions against innocent souls whose accounts and properties are brazenly frozen and attached without the owners’ knowledge.

He said: “When the real trial commences, their legal hollowness and emptiness stare them in their opaque and vindictive faces. “Justice Ademola’s discharge without even being called upon to defend himself, is a great and bitter lesson to this government that is fast descending into the abyss of fascism, dictatorship, tyranny and absolutism, through the cheap, self-serving, low quality advice of its minders; that the fundamental rights of Nigerians remain inalienable and inviolable; that the judiciary and rule of law remain necessary indispensable concomitants and corollary adjuncts of constitutional democracy which we operate.

“That rule of Law, rather than rule of the thumb and brute force, is what determines the success or otherwise of democracy. In his own reaction, Olatoye said it was a great shame for the Federal Government to lose four cases within one week. He, however, attributed to the cause to lack of diligent investigation by the investigative agency.

“It has become so clear, that there is no anti corruption war at all. What the Federal Government is fighting is vindictive war. And nobody fight such war to win, because the sense of reasoning would have been overtaken by sentiments. “Secondly, I am of the opinion that out investigative senses are so weak, hence to secure conviction even when a defendant is guilty will be very difficult.

“I think the President should begin to seriously think about his legal team. If we continued like this, no conviction will be secured, rather, only media hype will be the other of the day,” he added. Commenting also, Prof. Fidelis Oditah (SAN), said there should be no cause for worry over the losses suffered by the Federal Government since the cases were not handled by the same judge. He said: “Every case is based on its own facts and the fact that the Federal Government has lost one or two cases should have no implications.

These cases are not all before the same judge and as such, I do not see why people are reading too much meaning into it, people lose cases everyday. “On the Justice Ademola’s case, the presiding judge held that the ingredients were not proved. Justice Okeke who presided over the matter is entitled to make the pronouncement because he is the judge and if the prosecution feels that he got it wrong, that is why the appeal system is in existence, to correct errors by trial courts. “I don’t see why the loses should constitute any dent on the fight against corruption.

The fact that the cases were lost should not deter anyone from fighting corruption. We must all tackle corruption because it is a big problem in this country. “In as much as the recent losses are baffling to some people, we must understand that those are ways by which the justice system works. Anyone not satisfied with any court’s judgement can definitely lodged an appeal.” However, in his own comments, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said as long as the right is not done, government should be prepared for more losses of its cases.

He lashed out at the prosecuting agencies for constantly indulging in media trial of suspects saying judicial system has nothing to do with sentiments. “Well, we saw it coming and we sounded a note of warning to the authority concerned, but they will not listen.

We places much premium and emphasis on media trial. We have been saying that this will not work. Our judicial system is justice according to the law. It has nothing to do with sentiments. “Another issue is that most of the laws under which criminal charges are filed against many people are not yet domesticated across the country.”

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