Coalition Calls On EFCC To Release Or Charge Malam Daudu Lawal To Court Over Bribe Allegations

The Coalition of Democratic Watchdogs of Nigeria has called on the Economic. Financial Crime Commission to release or charge one Malam Daudu Lawal, a Governorship aspirant of Zamfara State to court instead of keeping him in detention without trial. 

In a press statement on behalf of the  Coalition,  Comrade Yunusa Idris, said it is wrong for the EFCC to allow Adams Oshiomole who received bribe worth $50million to be walking freely despite DSS indictment on him. 

Excerpt is the full statement from the coalition:

A PRESS STATEMENT BY THE COALITION OF DEMOCRATIC WATCHDOG OF NIGERIA ON THE INTRIGUES OF THE EFCC, MALLAM DAUDU LAWAL AND ADAMS ASHIOMHOLE.

One of the cardinal objectives of President Mohammadu Buhari's administration is hinged on its determination to eradicate corruption in Nigeria or at least reduce it to the barest minimum. This ethos was largely embraced by all and sundry - thus, the erstwhile administration perceived by many Nigerians to be riddled with corruption was pushed out via the 2015  protest vote against wide spread corruption in the country.

Now, major issues that culminated the APC primary elections across Nigeria was the unprecedented wide spread corruption allegations against its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The bribery allegations against Oshiomhole runs in excess of 50 million US dollars. This whooping sum was contributed from several states which includes: Imo, Ogun, Zamfara, etc. All these prompted the quizzing by the DSS and consequent report by the secret service.

Again, the EFCC under Mr Magu had last week invited Malam Daudu Lawal, a Governorship aspirant of Zamfara state who allegedly has given a bribe of 17m US Dallas to the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. Malam Daudu Lawal has been detained in EFCC custody since last week without being charged to court. Adams Oshiomhole who allegedly received the 17m US Dollars as bribe has not been invited by the anti graft agency (the EFCC), let alone being charged to court. Both the giver and the receiver are equally culpable. That is the law. Anything short of this tantamount to an aberration of our laws and a kangaroo arrangement.

Consequent to the above therefore, Nigerians reserve the right to know the reasons for the following actions:

1. Why Adams Oshiomhole has not been invited by the EFCC and charged to court even with multiple corruption allegations dangling round his neck for an administration that was voted based on the anticorruption pedigree even when one Bishop Ochei from Edo state had on October 28, 2016 petitioned the EFCC against Oshiomhole on his activities while the Governor of Edo state.

2.  What has indeed become of the DSS report on the litany of Oshiomhole's bribery allegations.

3.  Why Mallam Daudu Lawal is still in the EFCC detention without being charged to court.

4. Why the alleged bribe giver is being incarcerated in the EFCC custody while the alleged receiver is moving freely unperturbed and unmolested  for a party that preaches war against corruption.

5. Could it be that Oshiomhole is being shielded by the powers that be against the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

For these questions, millions of Nigerians reserve the right to get answers in a nation that belongs to all of us.

We as a coalition of CSOs would keep monitoring events as is unfolds.

Thank you.

Signed:

Comrade Yunusa Idris,

For the coalition.