CDHR: Dasuki, Sowore’s Release Belated

The federal government yesterday disclosed that it has asked the Managing Director of its Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, who was hired in April 2017, to proceed on an indefinite suspension for “apparent infractions” committed in the agency.

The government has announced the sack of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), Dr. Marilyn Amobi, and subsequently set up a five-man team to investigate complaints against her leadership at the NBET.

A statement by Mr. Aaron Artimas, the media adviser to the Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, stated that the suspension and sack of both officials were done to reposition the operations of the agencies they previously headed.

It said that: “Following some apparent infractions in the Rural Electrification Agency, the Honourable Minister of Power, Sale Mamman has directed the Managing Director of the agency, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi to proceed on indefinite suspension with immediate effect.”

“Ms. Ogunbiyi is to hand over to the next most senior officer in the agency. Consequently, the minister has directed an immediate investigation into the activities of the agency towards repositioning it for better service delivery.”

REA has been allegedly involved in corrupt cases of contract manipulation, inefficient project development and deliveries as well as frequent management squabbles. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2009 ordered that the agency be wound up over its alleged failure to live up to its mandate and corrupt practices linked to its award of contracts.

Ogunbiyi was however appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017 to cleanup and revive the agency. She subsequently attracted private and multilateral investors including the World Bank to the agency and embarked on electrification projects, some of which were opposed by electricity distribution companies (DisCos) for allegedly encroaching on their distribution networks.

The National President of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwummadu, yesterday described the release of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and activist, Omoyele Sowore, from detention by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as coming too late.

Ugwummadu said that nothing precluded the federal government and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), from directing their release immediately the courts made the orders.

He said in a press release that “the orders sought to be obeyed now have been issued several months and weeks ago depending on the case. This is a damage control effort that has very little impact because of the profound damage that has been occasioned by the indiscretion of this government and the presently established tradition of disobedience of court orders.

“Just too bad and shameful that several governments, governance institutions and persons across the globe had to express their resentments, disapprovals and disappointments at the inexplicable refusal of the federal government to respect the orders of courts.

“The AGF cannot, at this stage of the mess, excuse himself from the absurdity and disgrace brought about by this ugly and avoidable development.”

He stated that the AGF “by Section 150 of the 1999

Constitution, is the chief law officer of the federation with a responsibility to advise the government on appropriate legal decisions and actions to take including respect for rule of law and court orders.

“Indeed, Section 287(1-3) of the 1999 Constitution imposes a peremptory obligation on every individual, governments and agencies of government to obey and enforce the judgments, orders and directives of Superior Courts of records including the Supreme Court subsection (1); Court of Appeal subsection (2) and Federal and States’ High Court subsection (3).”

Ugwummadu pointed out that President Buhari administration’s penchant for disobedience to court orders could not be atoned by “the tokenism of ordering their release.

“We want to see the disciplinary measures, including the trials of all the heads of agencies that flouted the court orders as a clear demonstration that the federal government wasn’t a party or privy to these despicable actions.

“Secondly, and as a preliminary steps, those head implicated should be relieved of their positions and thirdly, the federal government, the Department of State Services (DSS) and even Ministery of Justice must issue a public apology to the victims and pay adequate compensation to them pursuant to S.35(6) of the 1999 Constitution.

“Finally, every other political prisoner including Agba Jalingo and Abiri illegally held in captivity must be released and compensated forthwith.”