By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
A group of lawyers under the auspices of Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi (LAWBA) has urged Bauchi State Government to take former Accountant General of Bauchi State Saidu Abubakar to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) as the offices recognized by law to investigate corruption.
Sa’idu was allegedly arrested by the Bauchi State Government through the judicially proscribed and outlawed Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission and he is being investigated secretly.
When he was removed as the state Accountant General he was transferred to Ministry of Higher Education as Permanent Secretary before he was arrested.
The group’s Public Relation Officer (PRO), Barrister Bala Hussaini said they have the responsibility of promoting the rule of law, matters relating to the fight against corruption.
He said: “We shall place it on record that we abhor, loath and are always at the opposite direction with corruption and all forms of financial crimes and of course breach of the law under whatever guise.
“The issues we feel seriously about and are taking the pains to address this afternoon as they affect our state are the recent arrest, detention and on-going investigation of Abubakar Sa’idu the immediate past Accountant-General Bauchi State and Permanent Secretary Ministry for Higher Education by the Bauchi State Government over allegations of corruption and other crimes should be a welcome development as regards the fight against corruption.
“Before now, a lot of the citizenry in the state are concerned about questions of the integrity and truth about the standing of Bauchi State when it comes to public expenditure, its financial standing and how just or otherwise the state resources are being managed by the incumbent administration.”
Husseini said when the news broke out about Abubakar Sa’idu arrest, detention and so on, many people became interested and hopeful that something that will be of benefit to the state in terms of the fight against corruption will be achieved.
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“As lawyers and having taking time to check through the law books and other relevant records, however, we are sounding this warning that unless BASG retrace its steps and listened to the words of wisdom and guidance some of which we are communicating through this medium, the whole thing may end up as anything but a fight against corruption”
“This is the legal implication of the binding and subsisting judgement delivered on the 20th July 2023 by the Federal High Court Bauchi Division Presided by Hon. Justice M. S. Liman in Suit No: FHC/BA/CS/76/2022.
“In order to be taken seriously on this issue, we are calling on Government of Bauchi State to as a matter of urgency refer this case and other similar corruption related cases to the EFCC, ICPC and other duly constituted agencies.”
Spokesman of the lawyers said that the action so far taken by BASG on this issue lacks legal basis hence same is dead on arrival as a matter of the law.
He said the people have more confidence and trust in Federal Institutions than their state counterparts.
“In the corruption case in focus, this becomes more compelling, sensible and justifiable as the law that created the so-called Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has been invalidated by the judgement in reference which is still subsisting and in full force same having not been set aside on appeal or halted in any other legal manner.
“It is curious that for a Commission that was purportedly created in 2022, it took until few weeks ago and more than one year after the invalidation of the law creating before it is taking its first major action or case on corruption and even then narrowing it down to only one public officer in the person of the immediate past Accountant General of the State”.
“ From the facts and information at our disposal, the government owe citizens a duty to explain how possible is it for only one person to perpetrate the alleged offences alone.The point is that as a matter of the rule of law, it doesn’t admit to selective Justice or politically motivated persecution in the name of fight against corruption”
“For this reason, government owe the people an explanation as to what exactly is happening and who if any are the other persons having explanations to offer on this case and other matters having to do with the commonwealth of the Bauchi particularly the aspect of management, accountability and transparency.Leaders hold offices in trust for the people so their should be full disclosure on any matter of public interest.”
When contacted the Chairman of Public Complaints and anti corruption commission retired Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG Sani Baba said he has travel out on his way back to Bauchi, the State Commissioner of Information, Usman Garba Danturaki said he doesn’t know anything about it.
