Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned “the continuous manifestation of deep-rooted double standards” in the anti-graft crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. In a statement by the national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, yesterday in Abuja, the pro-democracy non-governmental organization called for an all-inclusive fight against corruption.
“The basic tenet of justice is that he who goes to equity must go with clean hands. We are shocked beyond belief that a government that makes heavy weather of a so-called fight against corruption has clearly extended illegal immunity to friends of the government who are involved in corruption, but has gone after political opponents,” the statement read in part.
According to HURIWA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headed by Ibrahim Magu has openly demonstrated its affiliation to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as it only targets the president’s political opponents. It, therefore, asked Buhari to immediately free all political prisoners, including Deji Adeyanju, Sambo Dasuki and Ibraheem el-Zakzaky along with his wife.
Citing the failure of Buhari to adopt constitutional measures in prosecuting all indicted top security officials in the alleged arms procurement scandal, the rights group stated the refusal to try the Interior Minister, Lt.-Gen Abdulrahman Danbazau, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno, has shown that the government’s claim of commitment to the anti-graft war remains a sham and a witch-hunt directed at the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group accused Buhari of facilitating the escape to foreign jurisdiction of the erstwhile director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, and his wife just days before the EFCC belatedly filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos over the discovery of over $45 million cash in an Ikoyi flat in Lagos State.
Besides, HURIWA wondered why Buhari “selects” those to drag before the competent court of law for prosecution over the alleged $2 billion arms procurement scam. It condemned the prolonged detention of former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), over the same allegations for which Monguno and Danbazau were allegedly indicted.
HURIWA national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.