PRESS RELEASE: 2 YEAR JAIL FOR STEALING N32b

30^th January, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

TWO YEAR JAIL FOR STEALING N32b!:

A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE

 

An Abuja High Court yesterday sentenced one John Yakubu Yusufu to two years in prison with an option of fine to the tune of N750,000.00 (seven hundred and fifty thousand naira only) for stealing a whopping N32 billion police pension fund.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is flabbergasted by this judicial pronouncement. The judgemnet has far-reaching implications both within and outside this country. It constitutes an open and indubitable invitation to young Nigerians to engage in corruption and crimes of all types because they may now see no justitia omnibus in the system. Outside the country, Nigerians are exposed to more ridicule, contempt and derision.

 

This, no doubt, is a rape on democracy and an infra dignitatem of the collective intelligence of the good people of Nigeria. It makes a mockery of the war on corruption. This judgement reveals that the Nigerian corruption ring is wider than ever imagined.

 

The impact of this judgement on the bench is unfathomable. Whereas there are men of integrity in the profession, this pronouncement makes a mockery of the bench and renders it in puris naturalibus. It opens the noble profession to a floodgate of questions concerning the integrity of some of its drammatis personae. It portrays the Nigerian judicial system as one bent on robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is very sad that Nigerian courts are fast becoming recruitment sergeants for armed robbers and the principle of the rule of law is fast becoming a myth rather than a reality.

 

MURIC calls on the Nigerian Judicial Council to investigate the pedigree of Justice Abubakar Talba who delivered this provocative and highly irrational judgement. We assert that Nigerians have no confidence in him and his ilk. We charge Mr. Adoke, the Minister of Justice to call for the case file with a view to ordering a retrial in another court and under another judge in the interim. As a long term measure, however, we demand a clean-up of Adokie's Animal Farm.

 

Thousands of poor Nigerian citizens have spent years in jail awaiting trial: some for stealing one tuber of yam due to the pervasive hunger in the land, others for less offence. But Yusufu steals N32 billion and gets a pittance as fine. It is preposterous, tyrannical and therefore totally unacceptable. Our democracy is a fraud if this judgement stands.

 

We remind Nigerian judges and those in the corridors of power that "Allah commands justice, fairness and liberality to kith and kin. He forbids injustice…" (Qur'an 16:90). Allah also warns, "…And judge fairly when you judge among men…" (Qur'an 4:58) "…Follow not your lusts lest you swerve and if you distort or refuse to do justice, verily, Allah is well acquainted with all what you do" (Qur'an 4:135).

 

MURIC calls on civil society to rally against the tyranny of the powerful and influential in society. We charge Nigerians to rise against selective justice. Nigerians must reject this ruling with one voice. It is hypocritical to have one law for the rich and another for the poor. This is definitely not the democracy we fought for. It is imperative upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appeal this judgment immediately.

 

Finally, we advise members of the press to start a boycott of Abuja courts if within 21 days nothing is done to reverse this draconian ruling. Simultaneously, civil society must call out Nigerians to occupy court premises all over the country. As a last resort, the Nigeria Labour Congress must call out its members to start a 'sit-at-home' until this arbitrary, thoughtless and reckless judgment is reversed.  

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

 

ATTACK ON THE EMIR OF KANO: TIGHTEN SECURITY

23^rd January, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

ATTACK ON EMIR OF KANO:

TIGHTEN SECURITY AROUND RELIGIOUS LEADERS

 

Gunmen ferociously attacked the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, during the weekend, killing some of his palace bodyguards and injuring two of his sons. The injuries are reportedly so serious that they have been flown abroad for treatment.

 

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard this as one attack too many. Two major problems have now emerged. One: the security agencies are not doing enough. Two: the present Nigerian leadership lacks the political will and the intellectual capacity to tackle or comprehend the dimensions of the country's security challenges.

 

The fact that those who attacked the Emir got away without anyone challenging them reveals the gross ineptitude of our security agencies. Apart from total lack of underground information network which should have uncovered the plot and nipped it in the bud, the attack exposes Nigeria's security apparatus as tragically deficient in strategic planning and poorly equipped in forward-looking defence system.

 

Ceteris paribus, water-tight and absolutely impregnable security should have been knit around the Emir of Kano and all other religious leaders in the North from the day the suspected Boko Haram group had started attacking churches, mosques, Imams and emirs. It is as clear as daylight that the suspected Boko Haram group has rejected the status quo. This is why the group is targeting Muslim leaders. But it is astonishing that our security agencies could not read this barometer even after an emir was attacked some months ago. It is nauseating, preposterous and unacceptable.

 

MURIC demands an explanation from the Inspector General of Police. Kano Police Command must explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against it for allowing this to happen. Ditto for the Kano State Security Service and the JTF Kano wing. What were they doing? This is sheer dereliction of duty.

 

While we thank Allah for the Emir's survival of this atrocious attack, we make an urgent call for the tightening of security around all religious leaders particularly in the North. A very thick cordon must be thrown around the topmost echelon of both the Christian and Muslim organizations from now on.

 

Finally, MURIC reminds President Jonathan that he cannot afford to go to bed while the roof is burning. He should listen to the voice of reason and engage Boko Haram in sincere dialogue. Wars are not won on the battlefield alone. You may win the battle but the war goes on. Dialogue has been the option of MURIC ab initio and on dialogue we still stand.   

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

 

TRAVAILS OF PENSIONERS IN NIGERIA

16^th January, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

PAY PENSIONERS' ENTITLEMENTS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF RETIREMENT

 

The war against corruption in Nigeria has been long and hard. Yet no anti-corruption agency fashioned by successive Nigerian administrations to date has been able to nip the problem in the bud. The cancerous tumour rears its ugly head in every facet of public and private lives though its manifestation is felt most strongly in the public arena.

 

One of the casus belli for the reticence of corruption in this country is the negative attitude of governments and their agents to the payment of the retirement benefits of workers. The story is the same whether in the civil service, the army, the police, customs or any other formation.

 

Islam lays great emphasis on the umbilical cord which connects work with reward. People who serve must be paid. The Glorious Qur'an frowns upon the 'monkey-de-work-baboon-de-chop' mentality. Qur'an 24:38, 29:7 and 39:35 measure reward according to deeds. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) commanded his followers to pay workers before the sweat on their faces dry up.

 

Unfortunately this golden practice is ignored in Nigeria. Men and women who spent the most productive period of their lives in serving this country are treated like lepers who must not be touched and who must live the rest of their lives in quarantines. The payment of pension which should have been regular and monthly ceteris paribus is delayed for months and sometimes for years. In their old age, Nigerians who toiled for their country are treated like oranges whose owners peel off the skin and squeeze the juice out of them until they become totally dry and useless. They are then thrown away.

 

Many pensioners are made to stand in long queues under the burning sun while waiting to be paid. Many have collapsed and died in such inhuman circumstances. This is a blatant violation of citizens' Allah-given and fundamental human rights. It is ungodly, unjustifiable and unacceptable.

 

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard this phenomenon as wicked, inhuman and atrocious. It is the height of barbarism to treat senior citizens with reckless abandon. Any state governor or head of state who has no enduring welfare package for elderly people should pack his bags and baggages and leave office. Governance must have a human face and the welfare of the citizens (particularly the elderly) is the numero uno responsibility of government. Any government that fails in this regard has breached its contract with the people and should leave the stage for a more dedicated leadership.

 

MURIC asserts clearly, categorically and unambiguously that there is a symbiotic link between corruption and the shoddy way pensioners are treated. Workers who are still in service are driven to corrupt practices by the fear of what awaits them after retirement.

 

Finally, MURIC commends the efforts of some state governments who have initiated welfare packages for senior citizens and calls on the Federal Government and other states to take a cue from such welfarist states. We charge the National Assembly to enact a bill compelling the payment of pensioners' benefits within six months of retirement.

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974