EIE Seeks Visa Ban For Corrupt Nigerian Officials-Demands Rescindment Of State Pardons Granted Money-Launderer Alamieyeseigha, Pedophile Magaji And Bank Thief Bulama

DSP Alamieyeseigha

EnoughisEnough (EIE) Nigeria says that while President Goodluck Jonathan’s controversial state pardon of several Nigerians has attracted widespread interest, by the ones granted to D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, Major Bello Magaji, and Mustapha Bulama, the President seems to be saying he doesn’t give a damn about public accountability and the welfare of Nigeria’s children, and demanded that those pardons be rescinded.

In a statement today, EIE noted as follows:
•    Former Bayelsa State governor Alamieyeseigha, who jumped bail in the UK in 2005 on money laundering charges but was later tried and convicted in

Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he is still wanted abroad;
•    Major Magaji was convicted in 1996 of sodomizing little children; and
•    Bulama, former Managing Director of the Bank of the North, converted customers’ deposits into personal funds, and was responsible for crashing what was once Nigeria's biggest bank.

“While we accept that Nigeria's history has some other controversial pardons, and that the President's action is legal, we must point out the odious message sent out by these pardons in the fight against corruption, and in the fight to institutionalise Child's Rights Act in our country. These pardons do nothing for the President's stated fight against corruption and his oft repeated commitment to the rule of law. This action takes us steps back in the country’s fight against corruption as it sends a strong message in support of state-sanctioned looting of public funds and abuse of power.”

The group drew attention to the response of Bamanga Tukur, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in connection with the Alamieyeseigha pardon, when he said, “The question is: do you grant pardon to the innocent? No! Amnesty is granted to those people he felt did some wrong and after some time, their behaviour and attitude showed that the wrong they did was just a slip.”

Assessing that statement, EIE said, “If consistently pillaging the resources of a state over the course of 6 years is considered ‘a slip’, what signal does that send to our current Governors and other elected officials?”

It underlined that Alamieyeseigha has never apologised publicly for his crime. “Rather, he continues to this day, to maintain that he was set-up by former President Obasanjo, and former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, as a result of his opposition to the former's third term bid. Therefore, we wonder where and when Alamieyeseigha demonstrated that his behaviour was “a slip” as stated by Alhaji Tukur.”

The group further noted that were Tukur's reasoning to be followed, our elected officials can look forward to a cycle of impunity summarised as:

“1. Loot State funds  2. Forfeit some & keep the rest  3. Get a prison term (or not)  4. Get a Presidential Pardon  5. Run for office  6. Repeat Step 1.”
Noting that Jonathan’s spokesmen have consistently quoted the Constitution and emphasized that his actions were legal, EIE pointed out that the same Constitution states that the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people.  “How can the welfare of the people be served if individuals elected to represent and serve the people are allowed to steal funds allocated to the people and be pardoned for it?

“The same Constitution also requires elected officials to declare their assets before assumption of office. Something Mr. President himself said on national TV last year that he “doesn’t give a damn” about. This pardon is yet another example of selective compliance with the law by the holder of the highest office in the land and this sets a very bad example.”

With particular reference to the issue of Mr. Bulama, EIE asked of Mr. Jonathan: “What message are we sending to people who by their actions almost single-handedly bring down an entire section of our economy?”

And regarding Major Magaji, it asked: “In what country, ever, has a pedophile rapist been granted a state pardon?”

It stressed that the details of Magaji’s escapades are horrifying, and that in a more civilised environment, he would be on a sex-offenders’ register, and not the recipient of a state pardon.

“The reality is that Magaji’s pardon is far worse, and infinitely more disgusting than those granted to Messrs Bulama and Alamieyeseigha,” the group said.
EIE demanded that in view of the fact that Alamieyeseigha is still wanted in the UK; Nigeria is party to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the pardon has set the fight against corruption back at least a decade, the pardon of Alamieyeseigha, Bulama & Magaji be rescinded.
It also called on the international community to place a visa embargo on all Nigerians convicted of looting state funds and their family members, and to use all possible sanctions and penalties to convey their strongest disapproval of the pardon.

“ Finally, we call on all Nigerians as we prepare for 2015 to remember clearly those who abuse political office but still want to be our representatives in government,” the group said.