A coalition of pro-democracy and human rights group in Nigeria, said it can no longer sit back and allow law breakers disguise as law enforcement agents.
Ibrahim Bakori, spokesperson of the coalition in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, called on the international community to place a visa restriction on the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Bakori, said Bawa’s repeated disobedience to court orders, should no longer be tolerated, insisting that Nigeria is a country governed by laws.
“We urge the international community to place visa restriction against Bawa and members of his cycle for the dwindling rating of the outfit by global bodies as being deeply mired in violation of human rights, selective anti-corruption campaign, high-handedness and disobedience to court orders.
“Bawa’s EFCC is at the moment occupying a damnable position in the chart of government agencies violating court orders in the African continent.
“It evokes questions why it is the same Bawa of EFCC associated with crude tactics of fighting corruption, selective prosecution and in certain instances persecution of suspects, is the person refusing to obey the laws of our land, undermining himself and exhibiting gross disobedience to the orders of Nigerian courts.
“It is high time the Presidency saw the dangers posed to the laws of our country when unelected government appointees are acting with above-the-law swagger. Particularly if the day light contempt of court hanging around his neck becomes the features among government officials!
“The fundamental question is how can government officials disobey court orders in a cynical and very contemptuous manner, and yet expect the ordinary Nigerians to respect their glaring acts of impunity, high-handedness and biased handling of corruption cases? This is the time to drive sanity into the service psyche of Bawa and other law breakers in the ‘Emefielization’ of the Nigerian laws and even the Constitution.
“Let us state that since the incorporation of Nigeria as a country, not even EFCC a product of National Assembly law, the most endemic threat to her growth and stability has been disobedience to court orders by minions using the cover of their good offices for the entrenchment of contempt in flagrant disregard and disrespect to our courts.
“This obnoxious culture of disobedience to court orders idealized by the Bawas of this world, had permeated almost all facets of our national lives spreading like wild fire from the Presidency to the Emefiele’s CBN.
“The same Bawa has been accused of abandoning his prosecutorial prowess in the face of massive looting and corruption by some of his privileged associates.
“Several international institutions have genuinely and consistently expressed reservation that Bawa’s selective fight and continued disobedience to court orders in our country must be rebuked.
“If not, the consequences may translate to similar disobedience to the activities of the EFCC as an anti-graft agency on the part of the Nigerian people as a replica to the lawlessness of the Commission.”
“Unfortunately, he became infected himself by the cancer! Obviously, disobedience to court orders is much more cancerous than corruption. The conduct of Bawa is pure case of ‘anti-corruption campaign in detention’ or better still “democracy in detention.”
Should it therefore, not be thrilling news and a great public relief if visa restriction is placed on Bawa and members of his cycle?
“With glaring evidence against Bawa’s contemptuous behaviour, we implore the members of diplomatic missions in Nigeria to have the courage to do the needful,” he added
