The NAL Council, a group based in Washington, DC, United States of America, has called on the relevant authorities in the country to ensure that justice prevails in the on-going lawsuit at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) against the country’s number there citizen, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

“Rule of law,” the group said in a statement, “is the foundation and bedrock of any democracy. In a given democracy, there are matters that are not justiceable, because they are not envisaged to be within the purview of justice, such as international treaties between nations, or matters that are taken directly to the people, by way of a referendum; or legislative matters taken up by an appropriate legislature.

“The matter of Senator Bukola Saraki, which is currently before an appropriate court or tribunal in Nigeria, is a fully justiceable matter, and therefore should not be resolved through political or other meddlesomeness. The Nigerian people, who have been victimised through diverse plunders by various leaders, must have a resolution on the merits in cases of this nature. This is nothing personal against Senator Saraki or other politically exposed persons, but the rule of law needs to prevail in these cases.”

The group stated that the Saraki case is one of the many against prominent Nigerians, adding that it has cause to believe that the shady deals of many ‘so called’ will soon be brought to light.

“Further, according to the thorough research of our non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners in Nigeria, this current saga is actually a tip of the iceberg, as there are other formidable matters against various Nigerian leaders that are in the offing, and will be brought to justice in due course.

“However, when a person, high or low, in any given society runs afoul of existing laws, the matter must require a resolution according to the laws of the land; anything less portends clear and present danger of imminent anarchy in the land.

“Indeed, the prosecuting authorities and the adjudicating authorities (judges) in Nigeria, will not have the moral right to prosecute and convict a ‘kidnapper,’ an ‘armed robber,’ or a ‘terrorist;’ if they cannot summon the courage to absolve themselves from potential compromise by lucre, in other to avoid perversion of justice, by any other accused persons versus 180 million Nigerians. Unless the judges want to show us that some persons are above the law, in which case it will become a matter of everyone for himself.”

For the needed social advancement to begin, the group canvassed that nothing short of the rule of law should take pre-eminence.

“Therefore, in the interest of justice for 180 million Nigerians, who may have been plundered by various Nigerian leaders, the Nigerian judiciary should be resolute in delivering justice to 180 million Nigerians in these matters. Anything less than a ruling grounded in law and merit, will signal impunity and portends danger for the future of the Republic of Nigeria.

“The potential dangers of justice perverted in these matters may not be fully anticipated yet; but it will at a minimum invite for starters, heightened scrutiny on the actual judges that delivered the ruling in a given matter. We have said in the past, that the long-arms of our worldwide resources, in today’s globalised world, can unearth illicit resources, regardless of where they are hidden.

“This moment in time is for justice for the hapless Nigerian citizenry, and justice should be grounded in law and merit. We’ll be watching closely.”

•Photo shows Dr Saraki.

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