Over
time, I’ve developed a habit, maybe bad, of re-reading
old newspapers, with the aim of redigesting
and analysing them if necessary. No wonder, a lady once called me the news scavenger. The 17th day of December, 2013 was definitely
not to be different. With thoughts of the acquittal of BG in mind, I quickly
launched the bookmarked pages of my favourite newspapers, cursorily read
through and paused at the story of Bode George's acquittal, with keen attention
on the part where he took time to thank his stars for his
"vindication".
The
news of his acquittal by the Apex Court of Nigeria didn't come as a surprise. Rather,
a sense of expectation had filled my mind knowing full well the facts of that
case and the likelihood of his legal
vindication. Legal I said, legal!
Caveat!
This piece has absolutely nothing to do with the wisdom, rationale or otherwise
of the Supreme Court’s ruling because of I am certain that such venture would
only be akin to an idle rant. More so, it’s the Supreme Court; The Infallible
Supreme Court! Besides that, I agree in part with the Court's reasoning and
basis for the decision. I'd focus my
attention on BG's statement entitled "Glory to God Almighty", where
he claimed to have been vindicated by the goodness of the Lord".
It
beats my imagination as much as it overwhelms me that we now live in a society
where shame now wears a proud face and crime now puts- on the holy garb of
grace and righteousness. An era wherein people are free to steal, loot, kill,
defraud, embezzle, and vandalize to make money and they boldly showcase their
wealth, even in holy places, simply
because they got away and were never caught.
We
now live in a society where individuals with sterling and enviable qualities
are perceived as senseless, stupid and total failures with a grossly negligible
view of life. How sickening!!!
It
sickens the mind to note that the average Nigerian believes crime and
criminality isn't such a bad thing after all, so long he makes good money in
the end. As a result, individuals feel free to amass for themselves, wealth
large enough and meant for an entire nation.
It
is as much a shame as it is grotesquely appalling to hear such a statement in a
flagrant display of shame. Knowing full well the fact that his acquittal was
basically 'technical' and for the sake of not laying down a dangerous
precedent.
High
lighting the rationale behind his acquittal, the Court in its superior wisdom,
per Justice Fabiyi stated that
“The charges framed against the appellant in respect of
splitting contracts and disobedience of guidelines in Exhibit PR is unknown to
any law written at the material
time. They rest on nothing in the face of the provisions of Section
36(8) and (12) of the 1999 Constitution”
No
doubt, the wisdom and sanctity of this particular ratio cannot be faulted on
the 'Law' basis on which it was hinged. It is of sound legal reasoning in line
with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and most laws of the world as well
as common sense.
What remains a mystery to me and is how every
other offence for which BG and others were charged such as “Abuse of Power” and
“Disobedience of Lawful Order” under the Lagos State Criminal Code Law (enacted
in 1914) was lumped together and practically swept under the carpet. Surely,
these two offences existed in a “written
law at the material time”. They do not rest on nothing in the face of the
provisions of Section 36(8) and (12) of the 1999 Constitution.
More
importantly, it does not derogate from the fact that such offences bothering on
corruption are basically crimes against morality and not law in actual sense.
Also, notwithstanding the fact that splitting Contract as an offence now, was never one under the Public
Procurement Act 2007 such act, whatever name styled still bothers on corruption.
It offends morality and a perpetrator of same should be made to feel the heat
of some moral guilt. Such a person should hide his head in shame rather than scamper
to the Press to herald the 'hand of God' in his affairs. God is pure, and has
absolutely nothing to do with corruption of any sort. A breach of a moral code is a breach;
irrespective of the fact that if offends no written law at the time. His comments
about vindication and being saved by God from the claws and machinations of his
detractors couldn’t be more embarrassing and distasteful.
For
instance, the mere fact a rapist, serial killer and arsonist escapes the law
simply because those acts were
performed only a few days or maybe months before a legislation criminalizing
those offences are enacted does not automatically mean he remains enrolled on
the list of saints or that his crime against morality becomes any less
detestable. There couldn’t possibly be a more ironic scene than of such a
person thanking God for his vindication.
Imagine
a cyber fraudster alluding to his moral uprightness simply because cyber crime
as a relatively new offence in the late 90s had zero legislation of the issue.
With
decisions like this, one is forced to wonder how successful the fight against
corruption would eventually pan out.
PS:
For the records, Congratulations to him for the successful removal of the tag
"Ex-convict" and its attendant benefits
from his appendage!
