– Faults Media Trial By ICPC, Demands Apology
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Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, has berated the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) over what he described as the ‘unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutional detention’ of Oladapo Oyebanji (Alias, Dbanj) by the Commission.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Ozekhome faulted the procedure so far taken by the ICPC in the investigation, noting that the commission ought to have first conducted a thorough investigation before going public with any of its findings, as acknowledging the presumption of innocence granted under the constitution.
The learned Senior Advocate also queried why the commission would seek to adopt a media trial for a high profile celebrity and Music giant after the latter had cut short his international engagements in South Africa to honor their invite; stressing that the ICPC had by its initial publication pronounced a guilty verdict on the ‘Koko Master’.
“Dbanj ‘s unnecessary detention for 3 whole days after cooperating with the ICPC by voluntarily cutting short his full engagements in South Africa, came to us as a big surprise. This is because he was neither a fugitive fleeing from justice nor a Defendant already undergoing a trial and jumping bail. One would have expected that having voluntarily submitted himself and answered the ICPC ‘s call from South Africa to enable him clear his good name and solid reputation, by helping in its investigation, Dbanj ought to have been immediately released on administrative bail.
“Unfortunately, we witnessed the usual, now infamous media trial for which the anti-corruption agencies are now known, through a clandestine release to the public, skewed details concerning his invitation, arrest, and illegal detention, with no scintilla of evidence found against him after three days of interrogation.
“The ICPC ought to have first carried out a thorough investigation before issuing a pre-emptive damaging press release which, by its very screaming heading, had pronounced Dbanj guilty and culpable of fanthom, unproven and unprovable allegations even before the investigation had commenced. This is how not to fight corruption-a sad and unworkable template of media trial and the “name-and-shame” mantra. This invariably delivers the innocent into the hands of mob hysteria and internet space-lynching, thus painting even the innocent such as Dbanj, guilty of a false allegation, with the paintbrush of shame, odium, and obloquy, even before the investigation has commenced and been concluded. It amounts to works from the answer to the question. It amounts to first detaining an innocent citizen, painting him black, and then fishing for non-existent evidence to nail him.
“DBANJ HEREBY EMPHATICALLY DENIES AND MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE in ANY INVOLVEMENT in the ALLEGED DIVERSION of the sum of N900m N-Power empowerment scheme meant for beneficiaries or ANY AMOUNT for that matter. NOTHING INCRIMINATING has been found against Dbanj by the ICPC after the whopping days of deep and uninterrupted investigation.
“This is calling on the ICPC to thoroughly investigate this matter by inviting the minister who allegedly called in the ICPC, with all those alleged collaborators, and makes public their account details, including Dbanj’s account details which are already in its possession.
Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, further called on the ICPC to offer a public apology for its actions where it finds no case, but witch-hunting and name-dopping, against Dbanj.
In the meantime, Dbanji was released on administrative bail by the ICPC on Friday, after his arrest on December 6.
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