A chieftain of the opposition has accused President Bola Tinubu of focusing on former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai over his alleged alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The allegation was made by lawyer and politician Kenneth Okonkwo throughout an look on a political programme on Channels Tv on Friday.
Okonkwo claimed that the Federal Authorities’s actions towards El-Rufai are politically motivated and linked to the previous governor’s determination to affiliate with the ADC.
Talking throughout the interview, Okonkwo argued that El-Rufai is being unfairly focused by the present administration. In response to him, the actions taken towards the previous governor quantity to persecution slightly than lawful prosecution.
“We consider that El-Rufai is being maltreated and persecuted as a result of he had joined the ADC. We aren’t exculpating anyone, however it’s the court docket of legislation that ought to resolve, not President Tinubu,” he mentioned.
The previous presidential marketing campaign spokesman additionally questioned the function of anti-corruption establishments underneath the present administration. He alleged that such establishments are getting used to weaken political opponents.
“And for now, he’s utilizing his authority because the Commander-in-Chief to make use of the instrumentality of the ‘anti corruption’ towards the opposition. I wonder if there may be any fee combating corruption in Tinubu’s regime,” Okonkwo said.
He additional referred to as on the President to instantly launch El-Rufai from detention, insisting that due course of have to be adopted in dealing with any allegations towards him.
“The very first thing President Bola Tinubu ought to do is to launch El-Rufai. We aren’t saying he mustn’t face trial however his elementary human proper needs to be assured,” he mentioned.
Okonkwo additionally argued that safety businesses would not have the constitutional authority to detain a suspect for greater than two days with out bail. He maintained that extended detention with out formal prices violates the rights of the accused.
“Forty-eight hours is what a authorities has to maintain anyone in detention with out granting him bail. No, you don’t have that energy. And also you don’t have the ability based on the Supreme Courtroom judgment to maintain someone in detention and faux you might be investigating,” he mentioned.
He additional burdened that arrests ought to solely happen after investigations have been concluded and authorities have proof linking a suspect to against the law.
“The entire concept of arrest is that you’ve got concluded your investigation and you’ve got discovered the individual culpable for any crime you might be alleging he dedicated.
“That someone mentioned something doesn’t provide the proper to go and arrest someone, as a result of in felony continuing, it’s the responsibility of the prosecution to show the guilt of the suspect, not the suspect to defend his innocence.”