Judiciary remains last hope for Nigerians, says Ogun ex-gov, Daniel

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

ABEOKUTA – Former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State has lauded the judicial system of government for its thoroughness in rising to the protection of rule of law, describing it as the last hope of common man.

Daniel stated this on Sunday at a Special Thanksgiving service and maiden Choir Festival organized by Asiwaju of Remo Christians held at the Abraham Tabernacle, Sagamu, Abeokuta.

The former governor was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in October, 2011 over several allegations, one of which was as a result of his purchase of properties in the UK.

In a petition written by the former Chairman of Ijebu-East local government area in Ogun State, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, now the APC Publicity Secretary in Ogun state, Daniel reportedly distributed N738 million out of their N1.8bn to the 20 councils from their November 2009 allocation from the federation account.

The 11years legal battle ended on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 as the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan discharged and acquitted him on all 15 charges leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Yargata Nimpar, who read the judgment, found merit in the eight issues brought to the court by the ex-Ogun governor against the EFCC and acquitted Mr. Daniel on all counts.

Ms. Nimpar described the prosecution as malicious stating that the anti-fraud agency should not make use of state fiat to prosecute a governor for an action protected by federal legislation like the Land Use Act as it empowers the governor to allocate land to all Nigerians, including churches and for all purposes.

The court also noted that Mr. Daniel was tried in Abuja for a supposed crime purportedly committed against Ogun, as such the trial court lacked jurisdiction to try him.

But the former governor on Sunday described the victory as God’s doing saying, the judiciary has proven to be the last succour for common man in the country.

He noted that, despite pressure from some quarters to jail him, the judiciary remained firm and refused to succumb to pressure.

“Let me end this thanksgiving by saluting the judiciary. I have strong belief that the judiciary being the last chance of a common man is the only succour that our country continues to have.

“I am praising the judiciary today that, despite the challenges they have, the difficulties they have encountered because it is not easy to decide who is wrong or who is right in our country, but for the judiciary to stand and decipher and come to this kind of judgment they gave, I want to dedicate this thanksgiving for them. They failed to succumb to pressure.

“You know the judiciary is in various levels. The lower level, the middle level and the top most level. And I think it’s a good system, because if the lower level the perception is not correct, the other levels can correct it. For instance, if you look at the thoroughness of the judgement in my own case, I continue to wonder how some of those judges were able to read.

“The lesson therein for me is that there is still hope for Nigeria in all ramifications. Things are not particularly exciting, but  I think there are still people in our country who are thorough and we just must continue to hope that things will get better.

“Our investigation agencies, don’t tend to finish the work before they rush to court, so, most of the time, they went to court sensationally. We have to run against the perception of the people, so, it was a tough job for the judiciary.