By Udora Orizu
A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Timi Frank, has flayed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for levelling allegations of terrorism against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho).
Frank, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said Malami’s assertions were not only spurious, but highly selective and high-wired propaganda aimed at securing selfish political gains.
He wondered why Malami, as the chief law officer of the federation, chose to organise a contemptuous press conference to discuss matters that were already being heard by courts of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria and Benin Republic.
According to him, Malami was only out to whitewash the federal government’s illegal, ethnically-biased and nepotistic clampdown on and trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Kanu, and the Yoruba Nation separatist agitator, Igboho.
He noted that such impunity against citizens by the present administration is the very reason why several zones of the country are clamouring to exit the Nigerian union.
Frank said while the federal government is up in arms against Kanu and Igboho over alleged terrorist activities, it has failed and equally neglected to arrest and prosecute Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and their sponsors operating in the north.
He lamented that over a month after the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) handed over the names of six Nigerian financiers of terrorism to the federal government, it has refused to investigate, arrest and prosecute them because of their religious affiliations and the section of the country they come from.
The activist said neither Malami nor any Nigerian security agency has briefed the press or reported any form of investigation, arrest or prosecution of those on the above list by the federal government.
Frank said: “Is it not laughable that Malami has blamed Igboho for financing terrorism in the north and Kanu for the hijack of the #EndSARS protests and attendant mayhem unleashed in Lagos last year? The recent arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court, Abuja, when lawyers, media and prominent Nigerians were denied access to the court which consequently intimidated the judge and where the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) assumed the role of complainant, prosecutor and judge in their own case as a charade and show of shame on the part of the federal government.”
He therefore challenged Buhari and Malami to name members of the National Assembly they have accused of sponsoring Kanu and Igboho to prove the veracity of their claims just like the Government of the UAE has made public the names of those financing terrorism in their country, Nigeria and others.
Frank called on Malami in particular and the Buhari administration in general, to stop spreading hatred, causing division and attempting to instigate and provoke mutual distrust and animosity between the South-west and the South-east through lies and disinformation.
He also called on Nigerian leaders in the south to speak out and condemn Malami’s statement as they are capable of inciting violence in the country.
