In continuation from the previous edition (Edition 2)… The APC’s anti-corruption crusade, initially touted as a rigorous surgical operation against graft, has overtime turn into a spiritual revival meeting. Here, the doctrine of “repentance” seems to hold more sway than evidence, and a mere change of political garment apparently grants instant absolution from past financial transgressions. This unique brand of political theology has offered a convenient amnesty program for select individuals, turning the “fight against corruption” into a rather selective engagement.
Let’s examine two prominent “beneficiaries” of this novel doctrine:
Danjuma Goje: The “Withdrawal” That Followed a Withdrawal
Senator Danjuma Goje, former Gombe State Governor, was entangled in an EFCC case involving an alleged ₦8 billion fraud (initially reported as ₦25 billion, but later scaled down to ₦8 billion across 21 charges, with only 2 remaining after a “no-case submission”). For eight long years, the EFCC tirelessly pursued this case, calling 25 witnesses and tendering numerous documents. It seemed justice was grinding, albeit slowly.
Then came the opportune moment. In June 2019, Senator Goje, a serving APC Senator, decided to withdraw from the fiercely contested Senate Presidency race, throwing his weight behind the APC leadership’s preferred candidate, Ahmad Lawan. What a remarkable display of party loyalty! And what an equally remarkable coincidence followed! Barely a month later, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), then led by Abubakar Malami, took over the case from the EFCC and, citing “no prima facie case” on the remaining two counts, promptly withdrew the charges.
The EFCC, which had spent considerable resources and years building its case, suddenly found its hands tied by the AGF’s constitutional powers of nolle prosequi. While the AGF has the right to discontinue any criminal proceedings, the timing, just weeks after Goje’s political concession, raised more than a few cynical eyebrows. Was it a genuine review of the case, or a political transaction disguised as legal discretion? One might sarcastically suggest that in the APC, bowing out of a Senate leadership race is a far more effective way to escape corruption charges than hiring the best legal minds. A true testament to the “divine intervention” available to loyal party members.
Abdullahi Adamu: From ₦15 Billion Accused to National Chairman
Perhaps the most astonishing testament to the APC’s unique brand of anti-corruption is the trajectory of Abdullahi Adamu, former Nasarawa State Governor. In March 2010, the EFCC arraigned Adamu, along with 18 others, on a staggering 149-count charge of fraud to the tune of ₦15 billion, primarily related to the alleged diversion of state funds. His son was also later arraigned on separate fraud charges. The case meandered through various courts, with appeals and legal maneuvers.
Despite these heavy corruption allegations, Senator Adamu, who defected to the APC from the PDP in January 2014, continued to thrive politically. He served multiple terms as a Senator and became a key figure in the Buhari administration. Then came the ultimate elevation: in March 2022, against a backdrop of public scrutiny and his ongoing corruption case, Abdullahi Adamu was imposed by the presidency as the consensus National Chairman of the APC!
The Presidency’s response to criticisms? A rather poetic, almost biblical, declaration that “some PDP members, who moved to the APC with the likes of Adamu in 2014… their sins have been forgiven and forgotten.” Forgiven and forgotten! It’s a remarkable doctrine, isn’t it? One can only marvel at the spiritual efficacy of simply joining the APC. Why bother with lengthy trials, painful restitution, or even a public apology, when a change of party allegiance comes with an automatic, presidential-backed “repentance” certificate? It appears the APC’s fight against corruption has less to do with justice and more with strategic recruitment and a convenient redefinition of “clean slate.”
The next time the APC touts its anti-corruption credentials, perhaps Nigerians should remember these instances and ask: Is it an anti-corruption fight, or an “association of political criminals” with a very convenient, and highly exclusive, amnesty program?
To be continued…