News
Falana Accuses EFCC of respecting influential criminal suspects
The human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of respecting the rights of influential criminal suspects in Nigeria.
At the 2019 law week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe branch, Falana said Nigeria operates a double criminal justice system, one for the rich and the other for the poor. He made this assertion during the presentation of his paper at the ceremony.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said corrupt politicians and some senior lawyers have hijacked the criminal justice system, working together to frustrate the effective prosecution of corruption cases pending in many courts.
Falana urged “progressive lawyers” to team up with other patriotic forces to promote equal justice system in the country.
“Apart from two former governors, namely Messrs Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, the list of convicted persons is made of lowly-placed individuals in the society,” Falana said.
“Owing to abuse of court process, rich defendants have continued to frustrate their prosecution with the connivance of some senior lawyers.
“By virtue of section 17 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law. But in practice, the rich and poor defendants are not treated equally by Nigerian courts. Apart from the fact that rich litigants have the means to hire the services of the best lawyers in any area of the law, the courts are manned by judges who are not neutral in the class struggle being waged daily by the Nigerian people.
“Notwithstanding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been accused by the bourgeois media of engaging in Gestapo tactics with respect to the treatment of suspects, it cannot be denied that the rights of influential criminal suspects are well respected by the commission.
“The big men and women implicated in allegations of serious economic crimes being investigated by the commission usually receive polite letters of invitation, telephone calls or text messages advising them to contact named investigators whose telephone numbers are supplied.”
Falana said rich suspects always apply to be kept in EFCC’s cells since they are much more comfortable than police and prison cells.
“If and whenever influential criminal suspects report themselves they are treated with utmost courtesy by the investigators. Since they are presumed innocent until they are proved guilty by the State they are never paraded before the media, regardless of the gravity of the offence committed by them,” Falana said.
“Unlike what obtains in western countries it is infra dignitate to subject big men and women to the restraint of handcuff in Nigeria. Hence, hell was let loose when a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party on trial for money laundering was recently handcuffed by the Kuje prison authorities.
“A few years ago, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration apologized in writing to a former police chief who was handcuffed by the EFCC while he was on trial for money laundering and corrupt practices to the tune of N17 billion.”
Nigerians dominated the list of Africa’s Most Talked About People of 2024 by Top Charts Africa.
Nigerians occupied 18 spots in the top 30 recently released via the chart body’s website.
Nigerian singer, Wizkid, is number one on the list. Wizkid has been on the trend table year-round following his renewed beef with Davido and the release of his new album, ‘Morayo.’
President William Ruto of Kenya took the number 2 spot.
Ruto made global headlines in June when thousands of Kenyans took to the streets in protest of legislation increasing taxes. Following the storming of the Kenyan Parliament, President William Ruto reportedly rejected the Bill on 28 June and signed into law the “Appropriations Bill 2024” to address the budget shortfall caused by the rejection.
Nigerian afrobeats singer, Davido is ranked at number 3. Davido year-long trend climaxed with his much-publicised wedding to his wife, Chioma, in June, tagged ‘Chivido 2024.’
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; former Prime minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga; controversial Nigerian crossdresser, Bobrisky; South African singer Tyla; Nigerian politician, Peter Obi, and South Adrian music star, Liema Pantsi, complete the top 10.
Baltasar Engonga, the controversial Equatoguinean former public official who became an Internet sensation after his intimate videos surfaced online also made the list.
Full list:
1. Wizkid
2. President William Ruto
3. Davido
4. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
5. Aliko Dangote
6. Raila Odinga
7. Bobrisky
8. Tyla
9. Peter Obi
10. Liema Pantsi
11. Rema
12. Rigathi Gachagua
13. Khosi Twala
14. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta
15. Ademola Lookman
16. Asake
17. Very Dark Man
18. Drill
19. Nyesom Wike
20. President Cyril Ramaphosa
21. Reno Omokri
22. Rose Owusu Konadu
23. Victor Osimhen
24. Baltasar Engonga
25. Sharon Ooja
26. Toyin Abraham
27. Babu Owino Paul
28. Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina
29. Danny Walter
30. Pastor Enoch Adeboye
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has alleged that former President Muhammadu Buhari is part of a plot to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027.
Primate Ayodele revealed that Buhari is being influenced by some Northern cabals who are determined to undermine Tinubu’s government.
He disclosed this during the release of his 95-page 2025 prophecies on Friday, December 20, 2024.
According to Primate Ayodele: “Former President Muhammadu Buhari is part of the plot to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. Although he is being dragged into it by Northern cabals, he will play a role. If Tinubu isn’t on alert, he will be shocked by those who would stand against him in 2027.”
Additionally, Primate Ayodele stated that opposition parties in Nigeria are not serious and have not demonstrated readiness to take the presidential seat in the country.
“Opposition parties are not yet ready to win elections in Nigeria. They are a bunch of unserious people who only want to make personal gains. If they are serious about winning in 2027, they need to form one strong coalition; otherwise, it will remain just a dream.”
Speaking further, Primate Ayodele noted that the former governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, will make a major move in the state’s politics and that his movement could evolve into a political party.
“I still maintain that Rauf Aregbesola is a significant factor in Osun State politics. His movement will transform into a kind of political party. If the APC wants to win the state, they should work with Aregbesola; otherwise, they will fail,” he added.
The founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, SPAC Nation, Tobi Adegboyega, has claimed that he will be more influential in Nigeria than in the UK.
His remarks follow the UK immigration upper tribunal’s approval of his deportation due to an alleged £1.87 million fraud charge.
Despite the ruling, Adegboyega vehemently denied the fraud allegations, calling them baseless and unsubstantiated.
In a preview of an upcoming Off The Record podcast episode, when asked if SPAC Nation was the only church facing such accusations, he emphasized the church’s success in the UK and Europe.
“We are the largest independent church in the UK and Europe right now,” he claimed.
He added, “If I am in Nigeria, I will be bigger than this, 10x maybe. If I am in Paris, I will be happier. It’s holiday for me. London will miss me, so you better tell them, we still need this guy, nobody is close to us entertaining us.”
Wizkid, Tinubu, Baltasar Engonga, others make ‘Africa’s most talked about people of 2024’
Buhari, Northern cabal part of plot to unseat Tinubu, opposition not ready – Primate Ayodele
I’ll be bigger in Nigeria – Pastor Adegboyega scheduled for deportation claims
-
Entertainment1 week agoDavido reacts after breaking Wizkid’s Spotify record
-
Politics1 week agoDefection: PDP almost killed my ambitions’ – Ibori’s daughter
-
Sports3 days agoFIFA Intercontinental Cup: Ancelotti becomes Real Madrid’s most successful manager
-
News1 week agoMan dies after setting himself, wife on fire in Ondo
-
Business6 days agoNB Plc appoints Juliet Anammah as substantive Board Chair
-
News3 days agoAtiku reacts to hacking of NBS website
-
Sports5 days agoFull list of CAF Awards 2024 winners
-
News3 days agoFG launches LGs proof of address system to enhance national security and economic planning