Group Sues For Immediate Release Of Andrew Yakubu From EFCC Net - AMEBO NEWSPAPERS NG.

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Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Group Sues For Immediate Release Of Andrew Yakubu From EFCC Net


The youth under the aegis of Coalition Of Civil Society Groups has frowned at the unlawful detention of Engineer Andrew Yakubu by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission EFCC over money laundering.

According to a press statement signed by the president of the group, Etuk Bassey Williams and the Secretary General, Alhaji Mustapha Ibrahim held at Agura Hotel, Abuja today berates the EFCC for witch-hunting an innocent man.

According to Etuk Bassey;

"It is no longer news that the men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided a property in Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna state where they found $9.7m and £74,000 respectively belonging to Engr. Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The question that then come to mind is whether he has worked enough to have such amount.
This is an individual who began a career in 1980 with the NNPC as a fresh graduate, rose through the ranks of the corporation to attain the position of group managing director during his service for about thirty five years."

"He was Area 1 Plant Superintendent Warri Refinery
Head Chemical Procurement Lagos Headquarters 1991
Project Leader, Chevron Escravos Gas Project, Phase 1&2
Head Project Coordinator, Total Obite Gas Project 2004
Executive Director, Nigerian Gas Project Company
General Manager, Engineering and Technical Department Corporate Headquaters 2006
Managing Director, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company 2011
Group Managing Director, NNPC 2012-2014
Our findings also show that for this period, he was a dedicated staff who served meritoriously without bringing the organization or the country to disrepute."

"Without discrediting the effort of the commission in recovering the stolen funds from those who have looted public funds, we must state unequivocally that the action of the commission on this particular one is despicable. Detaining someone who voluntarily reported at the EFCC Kano zonal office for about three weeks is a breach of the rule of law and rights.
He abandoned critical medical check in the United Kingdom to honour the invitation, such an individual deserve better treatment instead of incarnation and total disregard to his fundamental human rights has guaranteed by sections (34, 35, 37 & 41) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
We have it on good authority that he was in the United Kingdom to attend to medical emergency but returned to Nigeria as a law abiding citizen. This health condition is threatening and could get worse if he is incarcerated longer than now. Life is important and sacrosanct. However, we call for his immediate release.
We observe with dismay the negative publicity of this matter which have instigated the general public against him, stigmatize members of his family without an opportunity for fair hearing and in grave disrespect of his person."  
We also observed the unlawful detention and humiliation as a ploy to defame him by his political opponents who sees him as a strong contender in the 2019 gubernatorial elections in Kaduna state. We urge EFCC not to allow itself to be used by politicians or the opponents of Engr Yakubu.
You may recall in December 2016, the Senate rejected the nomination of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu owing to some unfunded allegations and security report. We swiftly condemn the Senate’s rejection of his nomination, which appeared more like victimization and called on the senate to screen him rather than settle scores with his nomination. 
His detention and media trial amounts to an infringement on his fundamental human rights, as such we call for his immediate release.
However, section 45 of the Federal High Court Act does not give the High Court in Kano the powers to hear the case, to this extent the hearing is inconsequential. To avoid waste of time and other valuable resources, the case should be transferred to Abuja that have the jurisdiction.

Finally, the EFCC should not only do due diligence but must be seen to be doing due diligence in this matter.  Similarly, we call on the general public to see this issue as personal to the defendant, knowing fully well that he worked for his earnings and have not helped himself with public fund, except when proven guilty by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

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