By Umar Sani
Lawyers in Bauchi state have expressed their lack of confidence in the activities of the Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission calling on the state government to employ the service of national anti-corruption agencies in the fight against corruption.
The Public Relations Officer of the Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi, LAWBA Bala Hussaini Esq made stance clear at a press conference on Friday.
Hussaini who explained that a judgement on the 20th July 2023 by the Federal High Court Bauchi Division Presided by Hon. Justice M. S. Liman in Suit No: FHC/BA/CS/76/2022, has invalidated Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission said the lawyers find it necessary to rise to the occasion and responsibility of promoting the rule of law, and matters relating to the fight against corruption.
According to him, “It is our duty along with other stakeholders to rise in the promotion of the rule of law, support genuine causes that will trigger positive development in our dear Bauchi State and pursue all other just, reasonable and desirable efforts in the fight against corruption especially at this trying times when lots of ordinary citizens are finding it hard to survive due to the actions or omissions of public officers, politicians and others who have the privilege to be in control of state resources, wealth and the rest.”
He explained that the conference followed an action by Bauchi State Government through the judicially proscribed and outlawed Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.
“We are always at the opposite direction with corruption and all forms of financial crimes and of course breach of the law under whatever guise.
“The government effort in the arrest, detention and on-going investigation of the former Accountant-General Bauchi State and Permanent Secretary Ministry for Higher Education, Abubakar Sa’idu is welcome and the public is interested in the state fight against corruption, “he noted.
The PRO, expressed concern that “The action so far taken by Bauchi State Government on this issue lacks legal basis hence the same is dead on arrival as a matter of the law.
“In order to be taken seriously on this issue, we are calling on Government of Bauchi State to as a matter of urgency refer to this case and other similar corruption related cases to the EFCC, ICPC and other duly constituted agencies.
“In the corruption case in focus, this becomes more compelling, sensible and justifiable as the law that created the so-called Bauchi State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has been invalidated by a judgement on the 20th July 2023 by the Federal High Court Bauchi Division Presided by Hon. Justice M. S. Liman in Suit No: FHC/BA/CS/76/2022.”
He insisted that “It is curious that for a commission that was purportedly created in 2022, it took until few weeks ago and more than one year after the invalidation of the law creating before it is taking its first major action or case on corruption and even then narrowing it down to only one public officer in the person of the immediate past Accountant General of the State.
“From the information at our disposal, the government owes citizens a duty to explain how possible it is for only one person to perpetrate the alleged offences alone.
“The point is that as a matter of the rule of law, it doesn’t admit to selective Justice or politically motivated persecution in the name of a fight against corruption. For this reason, the government owes the people an explanation as to what exactly is happening and who if any are the other persons having explanations to offer in this case and other matters having to do with the commonwealth of the Bauchi particularly the aspect of management, accountability and transparency.”
Bala Hussaini called on the citizens of the state to join hands with the lawyers in driving the struggle for a genuine fight against corruption and other excesses of people in authority.
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