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Jonathan Meets Former Aides And Ministers To Discuss Call For EFCC To Probe Him

Published

9 years ago

March 13, 2016

Former President Goodluck Jonathan will be meeting with some of his ex-ministers and aides on Sunday to discuss the growing call for the EFCC to probe him for corruption, the Punch is reporting.

Some of Jonathan’s ministers, aides and top military chiefs are facing corruption charges in court especially in connection with the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of arms in the fight against Boko Haram.

The Punch stated that many of Jonathan’s ministers and aides are becoming increasingly jittery that President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war is too focused on those who served under the former President.

Last week, Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, said Buhari should authorise the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe and prosecute Jonathan.

Ndume had said,

“Nobody is supposed to be above the law. If Jonathan is a culprit, he should face the law. If there is evidence that the former President should face the law, then, he should. After all, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Quoting an unnamed senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Punch reports that the pressure on Buhari to probe Jonathan would form part of the discussion when the ex-ministers meet the former President.

“Barring last minute changes, some former ministers would meet Jonathan tomorrow (Sunday) in Abuja. There is no way the issue of probes would not be discussed at such a meeting.”

Meanwhile, some PDP leaders, on Saturday, called on Buhari not to succumb to pressure being put on him to probe Jonathan.

A PDP Board of Trustees member, Ebenezer Babatope, urged the Buhari-led Federal Government not to probe Jonathan, saying it would amount to a humiliation of the former President.

He said Jonathan should be left alone unless it becomes brazenly open that a lot of thefts are traced to him, but for now nothing has been traced to him.

“The late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, said you must not humiliate your leadership. When you decide to humiliate your leadership, it is not Jonathan that you’re humiliating, it is your values that you are casting aspersions on.” Babatope said.

“Those calling for the probe of Jonathan are enemies of this country. Whoever is spearheading the probe may be digging his political grave. Have they found him guilty?” he finished.