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CURRENT ISSUES:  Oil sector in Nigeria, bedrock of corruption 

 

Barrister Ayinla Salman Jawondo is a human right activist based in Ilorin, Kwara State. He speaks in this interview with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI, on the need for the President Muhammadu Buhari government to fight corruption in the Nigeria oil sector among other sundry issues. Excerpts: 

Judgement will be delivered on Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen’s case today, how do you see the drama trailing the matter…?
With all the senior lawyers involved in the matter, they engaged in dramatising rather than facing the reality, that’s why I feel they’re not handling the matter the way it should be. Having been confronted with the allegations, I think the lawyers should have been more concerned about the legal implication of the case. When they resorted to getting injunctions, they started obstructing the course of due process by going to different courts even when the matter is pending in a court. They put his lordship in a mess. There might be some undercurrent to the issue which the public don’t know, but something must have triggered all what he’s facing. Also, the fact that it is happening to the number one judicial officer in Nigeria, it has an effects. It shows that any public officer could be dug out and tried if accused of corrupt practices.
Till now, President Muhammadu Buhari has not spoken over the resignation letter tendered by the CJN, what is your advice to the presidency? 
We need to understand the mind of the presidency, in the first place, why did they take his Lordship to court? is it that they want him out of the way, or they want to use him as deterrent to others or to send some kind of signals? There could be political reason to it or they might want to show the world that they are serious about the fight against corruption. Ordinary, I will advice that the letter should be taken so that we can put an end to all this drama and face better things. In the first place, I don’t know what prompted the matter.
Recently, the debate for the establishment of state police was again brought before the Senate, what is your take on this? 
There is a difference between state and community police. State police is the type that manages the security affairs of the state, I’ve always been against that and I will continue to be. Looking at the experience that led to federalising police, they are still part of our system. The idea to make police Federal body was spearheaded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the native authority were using the police then against the opposition. The way our government treat oppositions are not always fair. Community policing is what can be done that will save us in the country. If we can do that, it means we are going back to the olden days when communities, traditional rulers are part of the security system. In the olden days, when a stranger enters the community, people immediately report to their traditional leaders. So, the system has been before, all what we need to do now is just to officialise it.
23 Nigerians are on death roll in Saudi Arabia; do you think Nigeria government need to do anything about this? 
About those who have committed offences that put them on death roll? There is nothing Nigeria government can do as far as Saudi law is concerned. We can compare the level of security in that country with that of Nigeria. It is only in Nigeria that Nigeria factors can influence a case. Once one is caught there, one will be taken to court and every proceedings are recorded. The system there is a bit faster than ours. There is nothing we can do about it, Nigerian living there can only adjust by obeying their laws.
Recently, a human right activist, Femi Falana wrote the Minister for Petroleum, Ibe Kachickwu over  controversy surrounding the $60bn oil revenue…?
There is no gainsaying in the fact that the oil sector in Nigeria, is the bedrock of corruption. That is because, it is the mainstream of our economy, so it is simple and easy for many people to make money in that sector. What Falana has done is in order, the loss of $60bn revenue should not be taken for granted. Why is it that government is not taking any action about that? Even if possible recover the loss. Falana can go to court over the matter, it is in order. But I want to believe that second coming of Buhari will give better attention to the oil sector.

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