Posted by By Tokunbo Adedoja on
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has said that it has commenced investigations into the issues raised by Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) in his petition against President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he accused the president of corruptly enriching himself with the fund raising ceremony held for his presidential library last month.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has said that it has commenced investigations into the issues raised by Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) in his petition against President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he accused the president of corruptly enriching himself with the fund raising ceremony held for his presidential library last month.
In its reply to Fawehinmi's letter where he alleged that the May 14, 2005 Presidential Library fund raising ceremony amounted to corruption, the Commission said steps are being taken to look into the matter.
The one-page letter, signed by one F. Popoola on behalf of the commission's chairman, with reference number ICPC/P/SW/185/2005 reads: "I am directed to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your petition dated 16th June, 2005. Steps are being taken to look into the matter and in due course you will be notified of further development".
Also in a release issued yesterday, Fawehinmi confirmed the commission's decision to look into his petition. In the release, Fawehinmi said "at the weekend, I lodged a petition against General Olusegun Obasanjo at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission.
"The petition has been acknowledged and investigation has begun against the President's corruption".
In his petition to the commission, Fawehinmi alleged that by establishing the library and soliciting for funds which he got at the fund raising ceremony, Obasanjo has obtained gratification as President contrary to Sections 8(1) and (2), 9(1), 10, 17 and 19 of the ICPC Act.
Fawehinmi also averred that as at May 29, 1999 when Obasanjo assumed office as President of the country, he had no Presidential library project, Olusegun Obasanjo Holdings and The Bells University of Technology.
He consequently requested the commission to apply to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the allegations as stipulated by Section 52 of the ICPC Act.
In the petition, Fawehinmi agreed that Obasanjo cannot be prosecuted while still in office by virtue of Section 308 of the 1999 constitution, he, however, urged the commission to use the report of the investigation directed by the Chief Justice of the Nigeria to prosecute the him immediately after leaving office in 2007.