The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has given the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to prosecute Senator Danjuma Goje.
The group said it will drag President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government to court if they fail to immediately try Goje, at the expiration of the ultimatum.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had, through its lead counsel, strike out corruption charges against the former governor of Gombe State at the Plateau State High Court.
This comes less than 30 days after the former Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations stepped down his Senate Presidential ambition after a meeting with Buhari in Aso Rock.
Goje was being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly misappropriating over N5 billion between September and November 2010, when he held sway as governor.
Reacting to the development in a statement sent tonewsmen, the Chairman of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju said the withdrawal of the case cannot be justified “as it only solidified claims by providing more evidence that the corruption fight of the President has been compromised.”
Full Statement,
“The action of the FG confirms the suspicion that Goje trial has been waved aside because of his decision to step as the Senate President for President Mohammadu Buhari’s prefered candidate, Senator Ahmed Lawan.
“This withdrawal has no justification except to confirm the rife speculations that the case was compromised to meet “political considerations” as in previous cases taken over by the AGF office.
“The AGF had set “bitter precedents” that the fight against corruption is selective depending on the political camp the suspected culprits belong.
“The withdrawal is in bad taste and this group will deploy all the constitutional legal means to defend public interest in this particular case.
“The international community would be notified of this subversion of rule of law and justice by the present regime.
“Bilateral laws and agreement between Nigeria and other foreign nations will be explored to exposed both the government and the suspect. Constitutional provision on Nolle Prosequi is not to pervert justice but protect public interest.”