By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has condemned in the strongest terms, what it described as abuse of due process and political misuse of anti-corruption institutions by the Federal Government to intimidate, persecute and prosecute identified opposition members in order to silence them.
The Government particularly observed with deep concern the recent actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), relating to the arrest, detention, and prosecution of the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development of the State and other Senior officials of the State Civil Service, as well as the disturbing attempt to drag the Governor of the State into a criminal narrative through insinuation and mischievous use of his name serially on the charge sheet.
The Government stated clearly and unequivocally that the affected
officials committed no offence beyond the lawful discharge of their
constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
The Government insisted that, “They acted strictly within established financial regulations and approvals validly issued by the appropriate authorities of government. To criminalise routine
governance functions is to criminalise government itself and to endanger public administration across the Federation.”
According to the Government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado,”Of particular concern is the belated introduction of allegations
relating to financing terrorism and money laundering allegations that were conspicuously absent at the time of arrest and detention and which only surfaced after judicial scrutiny raised serious questions about due process.”
It maintained that, “No terrorist organisation has been identified, no terrorist act has been linked, and no credible evidence has been disclosed to justify such grave accusations. The timing and manner of these allegations raise legitimate fears that they were
introduced as an afterthought, intended to intimidate, scandalise, and damage reputations rather than to advance justice.”
The Bauchi State Government also rejected in the strongest terms the false claim that the Accountant-General of the State was “at large,” stressing that, “The Accountant-General honoured the EFCC’s invitation, was detained for several days, and was released on bail after meeting all conditions. At no point did he evade investigation.”
The Government added that, “Such
misrepresentation is reckless and undermines public confidence in
the integrity of the criminal justice process.”
It added that, “Although the Governor of Bauchi State is not an accused person in any of the proceedings, yet his name has been repeatedly and gratuitously mentioned in ways that amount to attempt to conduct a trial in the court of public opinion.”
“The mischievous and serial use of
the name of the Governor in the charge sheet is a deliberate attempt to indict him in clear violation of his constitutional immunity,” It declared.
It further stated that, “The addition of a bogus allegation of “terrorism financing ” to the charge without just cause is nothing but a hatchet job targeted at politically destroying the image of the Governor in the public domain.This is unacceptable.”
According to the Government, “The Governor’s record of public service is well known and unimpeachable. He rose through the civil service t o the rank of Director, served the nation as a Senator of the Federal Republic, was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for five years, and has twice been democratically elected as Governor of Bauchi State.”
According to it, “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated discipline, transparency, inclusiveness, and a commitment to peaceful governance. He has never abused constitutional immunity and has never been convicted of any criminal offence.”
It then declared that, “No amount of political persecution or manufactured controversy will diminish the respect and confidence the Governor enjoys among the people of Bauchi State and across Nigeria.”
The Bauchi State Government stressed that it is also deeply troubled by the growing atmosphere of fear and tension created by the overt and covert conduct surrounding the matter.
According to it, “Any action-direct or indirect-that threatens the safety and wellbeing of the Governor, members of his staff, or their families is unacceptable and must be condemned by all who value democracy and the rule of law.”
Bauchi State Government further reiterated that it remains firmly committed to transparency,
accountability, and the fight against corruption.
It however declared that,”The fight
against corruption must be impartial, evidence-based, and anchored in due process. Selective justice, retaliatory prosecutions, and the politicisation of law-enforcement institutions do not strengthen democracy; they weaken it.”
“This is a season of political contestation, but political differences must never be resolved through intimidation or the misuse of state institutions. Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive where opposition is respected, dissent is tolerated, and the rule of law is upheld without fear or favour,” It stressed.
The Bauchi State Government therefore called on the appropriate federal authorities, particularly the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, to urgently review and restrain the conduct of the EFCC to ensure strict compliance with constitutional safeguards and
prosecutorial ethics.
In line with the demands of constitutional immunity, the Governor’s name should be immediately expunged
from the charge sheet, so that the noble institutions of the EFCC and the Judiciary must not be reduced to instruments of partisan conflict.
It stressed that, “Bauchi State remains peaceful, united, and focused on governance. The Government assures the people of Bauchi State and Nigerians at
large that it will continue to defend the Constitution, protect democratic norms, and resist any attempt to undermine the will and dignity of the people it serves.”
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