Baraje-led PDP faction a fraud, says Falana Tunji Braithwaite restates demand for Sovereign National Conference, faults ongoing review of 1999 Constitution. Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana has described the Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a “fraud” for allegedly demanding that its members should not be investigated or prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, seven governors and some chieftains of the ruling PDP announced the birth of the splinter group last August 31 in Abuja and appointed Kawu Baraje and Olagunsoye Oyinlola as its national chairman and national secretary, respectively. The governors are Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwakwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara). Speaking at the inauguralTunji Braithwaite Birthday Symposium in Lagos of Friday, Mr Falana, said ”the New PDP is a fraud because one of the major demands of the group is that their corrupt members must not be investigated or prosecuted by the EFCC or ICPC.” Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, alleged that a member of the splinter PDP, who is also a former governor, was being prosecuted for defaulting on a N12 billion loan and discharged by a court with a fine of N2 billion. According to him, the former governor ”is now claiming that the EFCC is again after him because he is a member of the New PDP, when he went away with N10billion.” ”This is very wrong and all members of the new PDP must be prosecuted no matter what and the media must stop celebrating these people” the fiery lawyer said. He urged the media not celebrate those not addressing the challenges of the country. Lamenting the widening income gap in Nigeria despite the acclaimed economic growth achieved under the PDP administrations, the human rights activist said”the symposium’s venue (Yard 158) used to be a massive factory in Lagos but is now used for church services and social events.”
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 04:06:00 +0000
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