ATTORNEY-GENERAL of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has been urged to immediately commence the prosecution of telecoms giant, MTN Nigeria Limited, as recommended by a panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, on its role in the call log saga involving former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami, and others.
In a letter to Adoke entitled ‘Re: Police Investigation Report on a case of Conspiracy, Forgery and Perversion of the Course of Justice by MTN Nigeria Limited’, and signed by its Executive Director, Sam Ayodeji Popoola, the Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI), said given the office occupied by Adoke, the international audience is watching and anything that will tarnish that office in case of delay of a very important case like that of the Salami saga must be avoided.
The letter reads: “Following reports in the February 12, 2013 editions of The Guardian and THISDAY newspapers on the above subject matter, we, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, (ASRADI), have continued to monitor the Nigerian print and electronic media, in order to keep abreast of developments on this case.
“We have accessed an online version of the Police Report (a copy of which is attached for ease of reference) and consider it troubling enough to trigger our interest in this matter because of its obvious implications for our justice administration and delivery system, as well as our national security objectives.
“This correspondence of ours is necessitated by what appears to us to be an unwilligness to carry out what was recommended in the Police Report under reference, more than four months on.
“While we will not rush to judgement – as only a Court of competent jurisdiction is vested by our Constitution with the powers to pronounce the guilt or innocence of any entity – we would like to enquire from you, at what stage you are, with the recommendation of the Nigeria Police that MTN be prosecuted for suppression of evidence.
“In civilised climes, perversion of the course of justice is viewed as a grave offence and is treated as such. It is our opinion, therefore, that if our country must make progress, we cannot afford to continue treating issues of this nature with levity or scant regard.
“A culture of impunity or “anything goes” is not only antithetical to the present administration’s Transformation Agenda, but also should be discouraged, by ensuring that whoever runs foul of the law of the land is made to face justice – without undue delay.
“We would be grateful to have your response as soon as is practicable.
