In recent times, a cliche in common usage online by Nigerians was brought to mind by the outcomes of the just concluded national convention of the ruling APC. Truly, “what cannot happen in Nigeria does not exist”.
Before now, most Nigerians were cocky sure of president Muhammadu Buhari’s zero tolerance for corruption. Times and believes do change, and in Nigeria, integrity does get dilluted with time and circumstances.
The newly emerged national chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu came in largely riding on PMB’s presidential back.
How consistent are the new chairman’s murky past with the stainless integrity of Mr President? Does the factual story below points to a party that has abandoned the anticorruption war? Those who seek to come to equity must come with clean hands. What we see here, is a sanitizer smeared sullied hand.
In March 2010, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 149-count charge against Adamu and 18 others, including former Nasarawa state officials and contractors, over the allegation of N15 billion fraud.
The former governor and his co-accused, however, filed a motion countering the charges on the grounds that since the funds alleged to have been embezzled belonged to the state, the EFCC was out of line in its investigation. The defendants also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
But David Okorowa, judge of the federal high court in Lafia at the time, ruled that Adamu would stand trial as he had a case to answer.
As of 2013, the defendants had filed a suit at the court of appeal, challenging the decision of the lower court.
Not much was heard of the matter afterwards, but the former governor had said the case was struck out in 2016.
In the eighth national assembly, Adamu wasv removed as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) over allegations of embezzlement of funds.
Meanwhile, in 2017, the EFCC said it would arraign Mohammed Nuraini Adamu, son of the senator, for alleged N92 million fraud.
Like in the case of his father, not much has been heard of Nurainu’s case afterwards.
Will Nigerians ever again believe the anticorruption fight usually alluded to the APC government? The answer(s) blows with the wind.
