Goodluck Jonathan
Following the continuous detention of Azibaola Robert, the managing director ofKakatar Engineering limited, more Nigerians have come out to call for the release of the foremost entrepreneur, who is a nephew of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrested Azibaola along with his wife and executive director of projects of his firm after he honoured an invitation by the commission.
The officers did not say why they were arresting him. According to reports, Azibaola was immediately taken to detention and has been held there for more than two weeks without formal charges.
Speaking on the unlawful arrest and detention of the entrepreneur, a public affairs commentator, Henry Omoregie condemned the action by the anti-graft body.
He added that it is a deliberate attempt to distract the public from the poor level of governance.
“I think it is an unnecessary distraction from the glaring failure of governance. Of course the soul that sinneth should not go unpunished.
“But this case is clearly, as things stand, sheer impunity. If the security contract in question was actually carried out without hitches, why hold the contractor in detention?
“Why seek for details of execution when the contract was actually executed? I also understand that Mr Robert is ex-President Jonathan’s cousin.
“The selective justice we are witnessing has become too conspicuous for even the least informed to see.
“First it was his CSO, detained, then released; then his ADC detained and released. In fact the latter has sued the FG for illegality. This has become a charade. The courts should hear people out no matter the cases involved. We are not in a military dictatorship where things are done arbitrarily. Selective justice is actually corruption,” he said.
Also reacting on the issue, the spokesperson of the foremost Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Eric Omare, who is also a political analyst, stated that as a legal practitioner Azibola should be treated as a Nigerian who is entitled to fundamental human rights.
He said: “Robert is a citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria. The security agency that has kept him in incarceration is a creation of law and subject to the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria and therefore ought to follow due process of law in carrying out their functions.
“The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which is the supreme law in Nigeria requires that when a person is arrested for any others apart from capital offences, the person must be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours where there is a court such as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where Mr. Azibola Robert is being held.”
Justice Olasunbo Goodluck of an Abuja High Court, on Thursday, April 7, 2016, ordered the EFCC to release on bail Mr. Azibaola Robert
