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Ridicule To
Our Criminal Justice System and Bringing Our Democracy to Disrepute Your exellency, I would like to draw your attention to some rather embarrassing issues as suggested by the heading of this open letter to you. The SAK Foundation (Nigeria) and SAK International are sister non-governmental organisations that evolved from the gruesome murder of Mr S.A.K Metseagharun, a one time Chairman/Sole Administrator of the Delta State Board Of Internal Revenue and until his death the Chairman of the Ugborodo (Escravos) Community Trust Governing Council. Mr S.A.K. Metseagharun left behind a reputation of Accountability, Honesty, Loyalty, dedication to service and compassion for his fellow man. He held on to all his virtues in the midst of all the vices that were ( and still are) the norm of our society (especially in Delta state) when he was murdered in broad day light and in the full glare of several witnesses on the 23rd day of September 1998. Following his death, those of us who knew him, realised that it is enviable to uphold virtue in the midst of vice < Comming back specifically to the heading of this letter, I would like to mention that on a daily basis a lot of us (patriotic Nigerians) living abroad disagree with Non-Nigerians and Nigerians alike who persistently attempt to paint a bad picture of Nigeria as a Nation and Nigerians as a people. Our argument is that Nigeria and Nigerians are victims of an unfair world system and that the true incentives for corruption ("safe swiss banks, international complacency, global demand for petroleum, etc) in Nigeria are not in Nigeria but abroad. However, almost on a daily basis there is some news from Nigeria that ridicules our arguments! I remember that it took Nigerians from abroad to draw the Federal Government's attention to the fact that toxic wastes were being dumped in Nigeria (The historic town of Koko to be more precise). Now that SAK International has attracted the interest of a global audience, I have had to tell the story of how the name "SAK" came about (that is, the murder of a prominent Escravos citizen over crumbs of oil money!) but when asked about the known killers, I have since remained dumbfounded seeing that at the moment the suspected murders of Mr S.A.K Metseagharun who are tainted already and are of known fraudulent disposition are currently holding positions in some of the registered political parties and are seeking elective offices! These persons are currently standing trial for various offences ranging from the gruesome murder of a former Chairman/Sole administrator of the Board of Internal Revenue, Asaba, Delta State ( Mr. S.A.K Metseagharun) as well as stealing of funds belonging to the Ugborodo (Escravos) Community Trust. Whereas, the accused persons have been charged to court and they were all granted bail, some are already deceased. Those originally charged for conspiracy and the brutal murder of Mr. S.A.K Metseagharun pending before the State High Court II Sapele Delta State are as follows: THE STATE VERSUS 1. SANDYS OMADELI UVWOH 2. GABRIEL MEBAGHAJE 3 AUGUSTINE OBOROGBEYI 4. DANIEL EJUETAMI 5. ATETE ELIKI 6. GODWIN UROWAYINO 7. ORITSEMA UREMURE 8. THOMAS METSEAGHARUN 9. TONY ELIKI 10. ALFRED EBAMI 11. EDWIN OLLEY 12. TENUMAH MONDAY 13. THOMAS EREYITOMI 14. ISAAC BOTOSAN 15. EYISAN TENUMAH 16. WAYNE AGBA 17. DICKSON JAM 18. JERRY BOYIKPORO 19. JOSEPH ESIMAJEMITE 20. TENUMAH JOSEPH 21. EVELYN EJEH 22. ROLAND ATETE 23. PETER ALI 24. JULIUS ATETE 25. ARUKUSI MORGAN 26. BUWA TENUMAH 27. EYITEMI EBIDO 28. JOSEPH OKONEDO 29. VICTOR UWAWAH 30. ROSE EBURAJOLA 31.MOFE PIRAH 32. FRIDAY ENEGHO Those charged with the fraudulent misappropriation of Ugborodo (Escravos) Community funds totalling N111,000,000.00 (one hundred and eleven million naira) are as follows: STATE VERSUS 1. SANDYS OMADELI UVWOH 2. GABRIEL MEBAGHANJE 3. MEYIWA EREWA It is pertinent to note that it is only Meyiwa Erewa who is not charged along wth the three others for murder. In effect, these four are facing a three count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud at the Sapele high court I ; Sapele, Delta State. However, we posit that within the context of the civil service rules and regulations, such alleged offenders are usually placed on interdiction until the determination of their alleged criminal offences. In the corporate establishments, such reported cases of fraud, stealing and conspiracy against any staff are normally dealt with by outright dismissal or termination of appointment. It is therefore utterly misplaced and nauseating to allow such people the opportunity of having any political power within their grasp while standing trial for such greivious offences in our court of law! We equally submit that nothing stops such persons whose conducts are questionable from throwing their weight to frustrate the pending cases if they are fortunate enough to grab power! From another perspective , assuming these persons (suspects) without notice to the public are erroneously cleared to contest and hold elective offices, what happens if they are found guilty of any of the criminal charges and sentenced to jail or to die by hanging??? It will be clear that the screening by political parties and that of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) and consequently the Independent National Electoral Commission lacks the required credibility. Our Democracy should be spared such disgarce and embarrassment! It amounts to a ridicule of the Rule of Law to allow persons who are facing the very serious charges of murder, stealing and misappropriation of public funds, who in this case are fortunate to avail themselves of the discretionary relief of bail to dare to even raise their heads and attempt to make a mockery of our Democracy and our criminal justice system. Had they been remanded in prison custody till date, of course, they would have no business aspiring to contest any elective post until the pending criminal cases are trminated by the courts. I can not help but link the above audacious attempt by murder suspects to contest elections ( while undergoing trial at the same time) to the murder of the former Attorney-General of the federation and Minister for justice, Chief Bola Ige (SAN)! Whose murder to some of us is symbolically a murder of National justice and a ridicule of our justice system! and the bravado and utter disregard for the law continues in front of our eyes and in every level of government in our beloved country! Finaly, your exellency, I would like to state that I consider myself a patriotic citizen who has suffered like most of his compatriots from the various ills of his country, but have chosen never to give up on his country and to return to Nigeria in due season to repair the damage done already. I also consider (and have proved) myself to be part of the young and very large Nigerian Intelligentsia, initially at home and now abroad. we have the intellectual means to despense justice and make our Nation proud but I am not too sure about the will to do so. I would therefore conclude this letter on behalf of SAK Foundation and SAK International, by requesting your good office to prevent suspected criminals who are undergoing trial from attempting to contest elections, pending the determination of the cases aginst them and also to ensure that suspected criminals are not allowed to embarass our criminal justice system and our fledging democracy. Yours sincerely, Dr Temi Metseagharun, General Secretary, SAK International Oritsejolomi Samuel, President, S A K Foundation (Nigeria) |