Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
Following the petition sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Chief Gani Fawehini (SAN) alleging corruption and abuse of office against President Olusegun Obasanjo over the N6.5 billion Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Project, the president is now being investigated.
Following the petition sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Chief Gani Fawehini (SAN) alleging corruption and abuse of office against President Olusegun Obasanjo over the N6.5 billion Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Project, the president is now being investigated.
Revealing this in a letter dated July 21, 2005 and signed by its Executive Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, EFCC stated that investigation had already commenced on sundry allegations raised by Fawehinmi in his June 20, 2005 petition.
While acknowledging Fawehinmi's efforts at supporting the commission with valuable materials, such as books, the letter said: "We are already investigating the allegations contained in the petition and assure you that we will give it the attention it deserves."
Ribadu also expressed gratitude to the human rights crusader for his "untiring effort in promoting good governance, probity and accountability in our dear country," adding: "We believe we are following your indelible footsteps and we assure you that we will continue to give our best in improving the lot of Nigerians. We will also continue to rely on your guidance and pray to Almighty God to continue to give good heal and protect you in order to continue your service for Nigeria and Nigerians."
It would be recalled that Fawehinmi had cried to the commission to investigate the N6.5 billion collected during the fund raising for the presidential library on the grounds that Obasanjo had acted unlawfully by using his office to raise fund for a private business.
Fawehinmi, in the petition, argued that Obasanjo's action of My 14, 2005, when he organised the fund raising for the library project, offends section 98 of the Criminal Code Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State, 1978, which states that "any person who:- (1) being employed in the public service and being charged with the performance of any duty by virtue of such employments, not being a duty touching the administration of justice, corruptly asks, receives, or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain any property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person on account of any thing already done or omitted to be done, by him in the discharge of the duties of his office … is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for seven years."
The petitioner had also alleged that the undertaking of fund raising by Obasanjo for the library project also violates sections 100 and 104 of Criminal Code, Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 1978.
In addition, Fawehinmi posited in his petition that the president grossly abused his office by awarding himself, in 2003, a licence to operate a private university, Bell University of Technology, an action which he said violated the provision of section 15 (5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
Fawehinmi had argued that those who donated at May 14, 2005 fund raising for the library project were "mostly contractors to Federal Government of Nigeria, who had benefited financially from the Federal Government since General Olusegun Obasanjo came to power on May, 1999."
Among those who donated for the Library project were captains of industries, like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga Jnr, Femi Otedola and Alhaji Arisekola.