The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday said it would not undermine the judicial process by acting on the Economic and Financial Crimes advisory list on alleged corrupt politicians.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said since it believed in the judicial process, only the courts could decide the fate of politicians on the list.
Alkali was reacting to an advisory published by a national daily (not THE PUNCH) on politicians and other prominent Nigerians with corruption cases.
The PDP had after a series of consultations with the EFCC asked for a list of its members with graft cases against them, with a view to stopping them from contesting elections in 2011.
The advisory list, which contained the names of 40 prominent politicians and over 60 businessmen, bankers and companies, however, attracted mixed reactions on Monday.
Among those on the list are former governors of Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Plateau and Ekiti states - Chief Orji Kalu, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Chief Michael Bot-Mang and Mr. Ayo Fayose respectively; as well as ex-presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode.
Also on the list are the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; former governors James Ibori (Delta); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Lucky Igbinedion (Edo); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto); and Boni Haruna (Adamawa).
But apparently to douse the controversy generated on Monday by the advisory list, the PDP through Alkali, said, “Since we are not the court, it is not possible for us to pass judgment on whether somebody is guilty or not guilty.”
Alkali assured that whenever the list was formally made available to the PDP, it would “consult and discuss” at all levels, so that the judicial process and the the integrity of members of the party would not be undermined.
He said, “What is important is that even though the names are there on the advisory list, since we are not the court, it is not possible for us to pass judgment on whether somebody is guilty or not guilty.
“Today, we have been able to see in the papers full details of names of people they have indicated on their advisory list. We have been consistent in this party. We believe in the rule of law and in the constitution.
“We don’t believe in the abuse of the judicial process. So, we will not do anything that will undermine the judicial process or undermine the integrity of our members.
“We should be able to calm them down to let them know that the party will not go after their jugular, just like that. So, we want them to remain calm and continue with their normal activities as party men and leaders.
“What is important is that, whatever is going to be done with the party has to be done through thorough work.”
Describing the EFCC as a professional organisation, he assured that “whatever we do, we do it in tandem with what the law says.”
He recalled that the anti-graft agency and the PDP had agreed during their discussions that there was the need for the two parties “to work together in harmony so that the forthcoming general elections will be rancour-free and crisis-free.”
Kalu, Ladoja, Nnamani, Bot-Mang and Fayose, however, flayed the advisory list on Monday, saying the efcc had no power to bar anybody fron contesting elections in the country.
Kalu, who reacted through the Director-General of his campaign office, Chief Willy Ezeugwu, said the list was an attempt by the Federal Government to intimidate the opposition.
Ezeugwu said, “We condemn, in strong terms, the arm-twisting tactics of the incumbent administration as demonstrated by the stifling of the opposition, using anti-corruption agencies that were originally meant to protect national interest.”
He added that the campaign office was appalled that Kalu’s name appeared on the list allegedly released by the EFCC.
Read More:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010264125529
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