Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has declared that the
occupation of the Abuja premises of Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited
owned by Mr. Robert Azibaola, former president Goodluck Jonathan’s
cousin, is illegal.
Noting that “the troops who were reported to have driven away the
workers in the premises have since seized the property without a court
order,” he urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the soldiers who
invaded the property to order.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted
that, “Sequel to the illegal action of the army of occupation, the
innocent workers in the company have been dispatched to the unemployment
market.”
Azibaola is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, for the diversion of $40 million through One-Plus
Holdings, a sister company of Kakarta Civil Engineering Limited, meant
for securing oil pipelines contract. He had pleaded not guilty to the
charge.
The human rights lawyer continued, “The implication of the plea is
that he is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the
prosecution.
“Therefore, if the Nigerian military authorities had wanted to
dispossess him of the property in question they ought have applied for a
court order.
“But by taking over the property under the pretext that it
constitutes a threat to a nearby military barracks the military
authorities took the law into their hands.
“The forceful seizure of the property should not be tolerated in a civilized society which operates under the rule of law.”
Falana called on the federal government to stop members of the armed
forces from violating the rights of criminal suspects accused of
engaging in the looting of the public treasury.
According to him, “By allowing the security forces to adopt Gestapo
tactics in the recovery of the loot, the Buhari administration stands
the risk of winning undeserved sympathy for the criminal suspects who
are standing trial.
“Indeed, the security forces are unwittingly colluding with corruption to fight back.”
He also accused the army of usurping the functions of the police to
maintain law and order in the society, adding that “power drunk military
officers” now declare civilians wanted.
The senior lawyer continued, “Even under the defunct military junta,
the courts never condoned the forceful seizure of the assets of citizens
by armed troops.
“Since the seizure and the illegal occupation of Mr. Azibaola’s
property cannot be justified in law the Chief of Army Staff, General
Tukur Buratai should order the immediate withdrawal of the armed troops
and sanction the officers who have exposed the nation to ridicule in the
circumstance.
“Having regard to the massive infringements of the fundamental rights
of the Nigerian people by armed soldiers President Buhari should order
the Army to stop interfering in the police duty of maintaining law and
order in the country.”
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