Posted by By Golu Timothy, Abuja on
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has been cleared by the ruling of a London Court on his position regarding the rejection of evidence brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against ex-governor of Delta State , James Ibori.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has been cleared by the ruling of a London Court on his position regarding the rejection of evidence brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against ex-governor of Delta State , James Ibori.
the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Michael Aondoaaka, has said. This, Aondoaaka added, is a vindication of President Umaru Yar'Adua's position on rule of law in the country.
The court dismissed the evidence on the ground that it did not come to the court through the Nigerian Attorney General as provided for in the bilateral legal assistance treaty between Nigeria and Britain.
Aondoaaka had been accused by a section of the public of attempting to shield people under prosecution when he pointed out the error made by the EFCC, then headed by Nuhu Ribadu.
But speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja , the justice minister said that the court's adherence to the treaty has ensured that Nigeria is not termed a "Banana Republic" where any one just walks into a country, gather evidence against its citizens and without government authority, uses it for prosecution.
He explained that "what happened then was that a bundle of evidence was sent to London without the knowledge of the Attorney General or the federal government. So, when this thing arose, our position was to follow the law and the explicit procedure.
"But there was a lot of clamour and claims that we were trying to shield some people but as God would have it and when you have confidence in God, you have no fear.
"Of course, it is a matter of common sense; nobody will allow anybody to walk into his country, pack evidence from its citizens and move out just like that. That will make you a Banana Republic. What we were trying to do was to protect the sovereignty of this country.
"Of course, as Attorney General, I feel that the President is vindicated not just myself because if the President had not stood by me, almost every Nigerian wanted my head. I would have been at home before the judgement would have come vindicating me.