In what seem like a well thought out restrain order place on some anonymous citizen involved in corruption cases, the Presidency has said among other things, that it has not issued any list of individuals involved is and not going doing so. The controversial Executive Order 6, which imposes a travel ban on about 50 prominent citizens facing corruption and money laundering charges.
Rights will be respected, the Presidency said, adding that the Executive order is neither political “nor is there any political gain behind its activation.”
It is the first time any government is taking such a key decision to fight corruption”, adding that “EO 6 is not only revolutionary to the efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption but a manifestation of systemic changes that are required to to make necessary adjustments as we carry on with the war against corruption.”
The very essence of the order is to make for speedy trials and conclusion of graft cases. The order is not political and there is no political gain behind its activation.” These high profile cases we are talking about have been ongoing for between seven and 10 years with no end in sight. These cases were mostly originated by administrations other than this one.
What is clear is that the access to these resources by the suspects has enabled them to be in a position to sometimes compromise investigation, prosecution and trial. In most of the cases, the courts are held in a helpless position by legal acrobatics paid for from corrupt enrichment by the suspects.
The new measures put in place should compel everyone involved to make for a speedy conclusion of these cases. If it is your money, you have it back. If it belongs to the public, it goes back to the treasury.
The question of the constitutionality of the restriction order is answered by the fact that a court of the land has given government a clean sheet. The Executive Order is legal and constitutional and therefore implementable.“. Banning these 50 individuals from travelling is actually in consonance with the judicial process that is already being undertaken by the relevant agencies of the government.
On the list of the individuals affected by the ban, presidency said: we have not issued any list and we are not doing so.