Mogaji Oba Abdulkadri is a veteran lawyer who practices in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, he speaks with KAYODE ADEOTI in this interview on the clamour for the eradication of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) among other issues. Excerpts:
In the recent times, there have been agitations for the eradication of SARS owing to the corruption allegations levelled against it by members of the public, would you subscribe to it?
The clamour for eradication of SARS, outrightly, is misplaced in my opinion. SARS is a department under the Police Force and we cannot say the police should be eradicated. If there is an observation of negative development in the force, we should come up with a solution to mend it instead. The department should rather be reformed after validation that it is doing what is wrong. However, with the position taken by the Inspector General of Police that it will be re-organised but will not be cancelled, that is a good step which is apt at this time if we want to save the country inspite of allegations against the security outfit. With my experience as a lawyer, in this country, I have seen the good works of SARS; they’ve contributed positively to curbing and prevention of crimes. I will never subscribe to its eradication and those who are clamouring for it should have a rethink, because its advantages outweighs disadvantages. The arms of government; the executive, legislature and the judiciary, need improvement, and this is what we should always ensure, not eradication of segment that is of great help to members of the public. If those men were asked to go for a week vacation, we will all see how this country will become lawless and very unbearable to live in because robbery incident will prevail.
How do you see activities of the EFCC in fighting corrupt practices in our country?
With due sense of respect and humility, EFCC has performed above average, we should understand that in any agency of government, they are bound to face challenges and I might be right to say, this present time is a challenging moment for the EFCC. If not that the head of the executive in Nigeria is President Muhammed Buhari, one would have agreed that the agency is been used to witch hurt other opponents or a perceived political opponent. Going back to the era of Nuhu Ribadu as the boss of the commission, from the interview of post Ribadu era, we realised that the then President used him as the boss of the agency to achieve some political revenge on persons. The case of Ayodele Fayose, the present Ekiti State governor was an evidence of this and that of Pleateau state governor and there are many more. The book written by El-Rufai shows clearly that Ribadu was a political member. In the book, it revealed that Ribadu told Yar’Adua that he preferred El-Rufai to be the President rather than him. The agency was supposed to be neutral but reverse was the case. In this era of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the commission, he has performed credibly well but again, the fight against corruption of the agency are targeted at PDP members, we have not seen a clear case of the APC stalwarts who has been taken to court for corruption. That is why we are witnessing massive defection even to APC. Some PDP members who felt government will come after them over their corrupt practices defected to APC. Once they change to the ruling government; that automatically becomes end of the case they might be having in court. The EFCC is performing a good role but it needs to be taken away from the influence of the executives so that it be independent.
Going by the controversy that is trailing the influence of religion on one’s profession, how do you put things in the right perspective?
I can only talk on law profession which I practice, and I know that religion is distinct from law practice. They are two different things; there are rules that guard the law profession and that of one’s religion. The two cannot meet.
