Posted by By Abimbola Akosile on
Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, yesterday tendered an unreserved apology to the government and entire people of Nigeria, over any negative impression
Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, yesterday tendered an unreserved apology to the government and entire people of Nigeria, over any negative impression that may have been generated by his widely reported 'I will bounce back,' statement,which he made upon his conviction and sentence, by an Abuja Federal High Court judge, Justice Binta Nyako, to a four-year jail term on November 22 last year, .
The embattled former-IGP, who is said to be traumatised allegedly by his being quoted out of context, is currently serving his prison term which runs concurrently for six months, at Kuje Prisons, Abuja, for failing to comply with investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over his alleged business concerns and interests in some companies amounting to over N17.7billion.
Tafa's apology was contained in a statement issued in Lagos by two counsel, Messrs Olatunji Abayomi and Debo Adeleke, who both sought to clarify their client's statement, which according to them, had portrayed him as unrepentant and had thus attracted negative reactions from Nigerians.
Abayomi, in his statement wrote, "since the conviction of Mr Tafa Balogun, series of commentaries have been made on his statement in court shortly after his conviction.
Regrettably, the press appear to have misunderstood what Balogun said, which has provoked negative reactions from several quarters. His exact words were, 'life is full of ups and downs. Today I am down, but tomorrow I will bounce back by the special grace of God.
'We emphasise that Mr. Tafa Balogun was neither arrogant in conviction nor indifferent to the toil and pain of his trial and experience. It is, therefore, not correct to infer that he was not penitent."
Mr. Balogun was not indifferent to the implication of his conviction or experience", Abayomi stated.
Adeleke added, "our client is worried and psychologically trauma-tised by quoting him out of context. His health is further deteriorated by the various uncomplimentary remarks such a mis-quotation has generated. He is genuinely sorry for what happened. He is a mere mortal prone to mistake. Only God is infallible. In event the above statement is perceived in a wrong light, he (Tafa) sincerely and passionately tenders his unreserved apology to the government and entire people of Nigeria".
"Our client has further made it abundantly clear that upon his release from prison after the expiration of his present prison term, he will dedicate the remainder of his life toward re-building of a new and progressive Nigeria. This will chow that whatever mistakes he has made in the past, he is prepared and ready to atone for them by being at the vanguard of a social, political and legal revolution to bring Nigeria to her proper place in the comity of nations", Adeleke said.