The Presidency has denied issuing a list
of Nigerians affected by a travel ban as it also clarified that the
Executive Order No. 6 is not a political weapon against opposition but
part of revolutionary efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption.
Malam
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity issued the clarification today after a national newspaper
published a list containing 50 names of people cutting across the two
main political parties and the military establishment.
“I want to confirm to you that we have not issued any list and we are not doing so”, the presidential aide said.
“These
cases are well known and to say this or that name is on it will open
the door to further accusations, including trial by media.
“The
Immìgration Service and other security agencies have the mandate of the
President to carry out enforcement and they will do so giving due
respects to individual rights, in line with the constitution,’’he said.
The presidential aide was reacting to a trail of criticisms over the implementation of the EO6 by the federal government.
Shehu
dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that the activation of the
EO 6 was targeted at some individuals or politicians in the country.
“EO
6 is not only revolutionary to the efforts to rid Nigeria of corruption
but a manifestation of systemic changes that are required to make
necessary adjustments as we carry on with the war against corruption.
“The very essence of the order is to make for speedy trials and conclusion of graft cases.
“The order is not politics and there is no political gain behind its activation.
“These
high profile cases we are talking about have been ongoing for between
seven to 10 years with no end in sight. These cases were mostly
originated by administrations other than this one.
“What is clear
is that the access to these resources by the suspects has enabled them
to be in a composition to sometime compromise investigation, prosecution
and trial.’’
He further explained that, in most of the cases,
the courts were held in a helpless position by legal acrobatics paid for
from corrupt enrichment by the suspects.
He, therefore,
expressed the hope that the new measures put in place would compel
everyone involved to make for a speedy conclusion of these cases.
“If it is your money, you have it back. If it belongs to the public, it goes back to the treasury,’’ he said.
Shehu
added that the question of the constitutionality of the restriction
order had been answered by the fact that “a court of the land has given
government a clean sheet.’’
“The Executive Order is legal and constitutional and therefore implementable.
“One
of the cardinal objectives of the government under our constitution is
to fight corruption. Fighting corruption is a responsibility and
obligation upon the government,’’ he further maintained.
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